This study integrates data from regional model simulations, reanalysis data set, radiosonde observations, lidar measurements, and satellite products to evaluate the direct radiative forcing effect of biomass burning and dust over East Asia. During March and April, we find an overall cooling effect of the dust of −5 to −9 W/m2. Biomass burning aerosols from Peninsular Southeast Asia exhibit a warming effect of 5–10 W/m2 over the source area, lower than that over the downwind area of 10–20 W/m2 because of significantly higher cloud coverage in South China. Dust and biomass burning aerosols are found to cool the near surface layer (0–1 km) by −0.5 and −0.3 K, respectively, and warm the upper air (1–5 km) by +0.1 and +0.2 K, respectively. In Taipei, simultaneous presences of dust and biomass burning lead to cooling of near‐surface air by −1.5 K and warming of upper air by +1 K. Plain Language Summary Biomass burning and dust are the largest natural emission sources of atmospheric aerosol. However, no solid consensus exists regarding whether biomass burning or dust contributes to a net warming or cooling effect. This study integrates data from regional climate model simulations, reanalysis data, radiosonde observations, lidar measurements, and satellite products to evaluate the climate effects of biomass burning and dust at a regional scale over East Asia. We find prominent warming effects by biomass burning in Peninsular Southeast Asia, which is more significant over the downwind area in South China than over the emission source area. Dust exhibits cooling effects, with a few exceptions over areas covered by semipersistent snow or ice. We also reveal that under conditions in which both biomass burning and dust aerosols are present, they exhibit an overall slight warming effect. Key Points Peninsular Southeast Asia biomass burning shows larger warming effect (10‐20 W/m2) over downwind region than over the source area (5‐10 W/m2) Dust shows a cooling effect of up to ‐9 W/m2 with a few exceptions along north and east edges of Tibet Plateau due to snow or ice cover Dust and biomass burning cool the near surface air and warm the upper air, and their radiative efficiencies decrease during transport