The　nature　and　distribution　of　Cu　species　in　Cu-SSZ-13　play　a　vital　role　in　selective　catalytic　reduction　of　NO　by　NH3　(NH3-SCR),　but　existing　methods　for　adjusting　the　Cu　distribution　are　complex　and　difficult　to　control.　Herein,　we　report　a　simple　and　effective　ion-exchange　approach　to　regulate　the　Cu　distribution　in　the　one-pot　synthesized　Cu-SSZ-13　that　possesses　sufficient　initial　Cu　species　and　thus　provides　a　＇natural　environment＇　for　adjusting　Cu　distribution　precisely.　By　using　this　proposed　strategy,　a　series　of　Cu-SSZ-13x　zeolites　with　different　Cu　contents　and　distributions　were　obtained.　It　is　shown　that　the　dealumination　of　the　as-synthesized　Cu-SSZ-13　during　the　ion-exchange　generates　abundant　vacant　sites　in　the　double　six-membered-rings　of　the　SSZ-13　zeolite　for　relocating　Cu2+　species　and　thus　allows　the　redistribution　of　the　Cu　species.　The　catalytic　results　showed　that　the　ion-exchanged　Cu-SSZ-13　zeolites　exhibit　quite　different　catalytic　performance　in　NH3-SCR　reaction　but　superior　to　the　parent　counterpart.　The　structure–activity　relationship　analysis　indicates　that　the　redistribution　of　Cu　species　rather　than　other　factors　(e.g.,　crystallinity,　chemical　composition,　and　porous　structure)　is　responsible　for　the　improved　NH3-SCR　performance　and　SO2　and　H2O　resistance.　Our　work　offers　an　effective　method　to　precisely　adjust　the　Cu　distribution　in　preparing　the　industrial　SCR　catalysts.　©　2021　The　Chemical　Industry　and　Engineering　Society　of　China,　and　Chemical　Industry　Press　Co.,　Ltd.