This paper investigates the aerosol properties over the major East Asian stations of Beijing, Gosan, Osaka, Taipei, Muk- dahan, and Bac-Giang, during the years 2002 - 2008. Aerosol optical thickness (AOT) product from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometers (MODIS) onboard the Aqua and Terra satellites are used for this study. The aerosol robotic net- work (AERONET) ground observations are used to validate the satellite AOT. The daily, monthly, seasonal, and inter-annual AOT variations over the selected locations are described along with meteorological parameters from National Center for En- vironmental Prediction, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) reanalysis data and Global Precipitation Climatology Center (GPCC) data. Angstrom exponent (AE), and fine mode fraction (FMF) from MODIS and AERONET are used to discuss the size, type and possible particle sources. Seasonal wind patterns from NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data are used to confirm particle transport from the source regions around the study area to the chosen stations. The results suggest that the maximum aerosol loading occurs over Beijing with the daily mean AOT reaching above 2.0. Gosan and Taipei are among the stations having the smallest AOT in most seasons with values below 0.5. Dust influence appears to be significant over Beijing, Osaka, and Gosan and to a lesser extent over Bac-Giang in the spring. Pollution, bio-mass burning, etc. contribute in the summer and spring over all stations. The detailed AOT characteristic over Mukdahan and Bac-Giang are reported for the first time.