Abstract: The vertical structures of reactive gas concentrations, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed were observed in the center (Tazhong station) and southern edge (Minfeng station) of the Taklamakan Desert during 21^st-31^st July 2021 and 8^th-29^th May 2022 using an unmanned airplane observation platform to compare the vertical variations of reactive gases in the hinterland and southern edge, and the source was further investigated in combination with the HYSPLIT model. The results show that: (1) The overall CO concentration at Minfeng station is slightly higher than that at Tazhong station, the CO concentration in spring is significantly higher than that in summer, and there may be high concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂. The average CO concentration was as follows: Minfeng station spring (524.68×10⁻⁹ ) >Minfeng station summer (468.95×10⁻⁹) >Tazhong station spring (313.42×10⁻⁹) >Tazhong station summer (133.64×10⁻⁹). The SO₂ concentration in summer was higher than that in spring with the characteristics of Minfeng station summer (105.22×10⁻⁹) >Minfeng station spring (69.21×10⁻⁹) >Tazhong station summer (65.38×10⁻⁹) >Tazhong station spring (49.98×10⁻⁹). The overall NO₂ concentration at Tazhong station were higher than that at Minfeng station with spring at Tazhong station (158.95×10⁻⁹) >summer at Tazhong station (155.10×10⁻⁹) >spring at Minfeng station (131.58×10⁻⁹) >summer at Minfeng station (127.23×10⁻⁹), which correlated with the change of O₃ concentration. The O₃ concentration in summer was significantly higher than that in spring, showing the characteristics of summer at Tazhong station (51.22×10⁻⁹) >summer at Minfeng station (24.23×10⁻⁹) >spring at Tazhong station (11.90×10⁻⁹) >spring at Minfeng station (11.67×10⁻⁹). (2) The vertical profile of reactive gases at Tazhong station and Minfeng station changed significantly, and CO concentration increased with height and was affected by change of wind speed. SO₂ concentration was mostly characterized by fluctuating changes. NO₂ concentration was higher during the day than at night, and the concentration of NO₂ near the ground was higher. O₃ concentration showed obvious diurnal change in the vertical profile. (3) Most of the reactive gases in the spring are likely to be transported over long distances by the ‘Eastern Irrigation’ airflows. The reactive gas concentration at Tazhong station in summer was mainly affected by human activities in the oasis zone on the northern edge of the basin. The spring airflow at Minfeng station came from the county area on the southern edge of the basin, where human activities were relatively concentrated and contributed a larger concentration of reactive gases. The summer airflows at Minfeng station all originated from the interior of the desert, which may lead to differences in reactive gas concentrations in spring and summer. The study shows that there are significant differences in reactive gas concentrations at Tazhong station and Minfeng station in spring and summer, and the areas with high human activities contribute to high reactive gas concentrations.