This　study　endeavors　to　explore　the　impact　of　different　environmental　regulations　and　their　heterogeneity　on　air　pollution　control　in　China.　By　employing　a　slacks-based　measure　of　directional　distance　function　model,　considering　undesirable　outputs,　the　efficiency　of　air　pollution　control　of　China＇s　30　provinces　during　2001-2014　is　evaluated.　The　estimates　indicate　that　the　efficiency　of　air　pollution　control　is　fluctuating,　and　there　is　obvious　regional　differences.　By　using　provincial-level　panel　data　and　panel　threshold　models,　empirical　results　show　that:　(1)　There　is　a　nonlinear　relationship　between　environmental　regulation　and　air　pollution　control　efficiency,　and　it　can　be　positively　correlated,　but　it　is　constrained　by　the　stringency　of　regulation:　there　is　a　single　threshold　for　formal　(command-and-control　(CAC)　and　market-based)　regulation,　while　there　is　a　double　threshold　for　informal　regulation.　(2)　Different　environmental　regulations　have　different　governance　effects.　Compared　with　CAC　regulation,　market　regulation　can　attract　more　attention　of　enterprises.　(3)　It　may　be　ineffective　to　expect　informal　regulation　to　improve　the　air　pollution　control　efficiency.　Therefore,　in　order　to　achieve　real　sustainable　development,　the　government　should　set　up　reasonable　regulation　stringency　and　optimize　the　combination　of　regulation　tools.