SO2 emission reduction over North China is most effective in reducing national mean surface sulfate concentrations and sulfur export fluxes (β = 0.76 and 0.95, respectively), while reduction over South China has the highest β in reducing population-weighted sulfate concentration (β = 0.98). We recommend that China needs to carefully design a regionally specific implementation plan of realizing its SO2 emissions reduction target to maximize the resulting air quality benefits.