To investigate the characteristic and sources of the fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and the major sources affecting particulate air pollution in Shanghai, China, the individual aerosol particles were analyzed using the synchrotron radiation micro-beam X-ray fluorescence analysis (μ-SXRF), and the PM_2.5 multi-elements were determined by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results show that the mass concentration and chemical elements have seasonal variation, and the enrichment factors show that the chemical elements in the inhalable particles could come from the earth crust and anthropogenic pollution. The extent of metal pollution was assessed by comparing the measured concentrations with those reported in the literature. Nine categories of PM_2.5 pollution sources identified at the center of Shanghai show that the vehicle exhaust, emission of metallurgic industry and coal combustion are important.