Remote sensing the surface air quality from space is a new technology following the development of the space-based observations. How to use the column atmospheric aerosol optical depth ([EQUATION]) products to quantitatively estimate surface air quality is a difficult question. The surface extinction coefficients ([EQUATION]) and the dry aerosol extinction coefficients ([EQUATION]) are derived from high spatial resolution aerosol optical depth products with a vertical distribution correction and a moisture effect correction. It is found that the [EQUATION] has a higher correlation with surface PM[EQUATION] mass concentration than the [EQUATION], and the [EQUATION] has the highest correlation among the three variables with PM[EQUATION] measurements. The products of [EQUATION] are used to estimate the air quality change in summer of 2008 in Beijing. Comparing with the seasonal averaged data in 2005[EQUATION]2007, the surface aerosol extinction in summer of 2008 decreased by 17[EQUATION]20%. In the other cities and regions of the North China Plain, there is no significant change on the surface aerosol distributions. It is concluded that the decrease of aerosol loading in Beijing is related to the local emission reduction directly.