Hierarchical　SAPO-34　crystals　were　synthesized　by　a　facile　acid　etching　post-treatment.　Butterfly-shaped　porous　patterns　on　four　side　faces　and　hierarchical　pores　composed　of　micropores,　mesopores　and　macropores　were　formed　after　a　nitric　acid　or　oxalic　acid　treatment.　The　catalytic　performance　of　the　hierarchical　SAPO-34　for　the　methanol　to　olefins　(MTO)　process　showed　that　the　synergistic　effect　of　the　hierarchical　pores　and　acid　sites　resulted　in　a　longer　catalyst　lifetime　(from　210　to　390　min　for　the　acid　treated　SAPO-34)　and　higher　selectivity　to　light　olefins　of　92%-94%.　The　ethylene　selectivity　can　be　adjusted　between　37.4%　and　51.5%　by　the　pore　size.　No　hierarchical　SAPO-34　was　obtained　after　a　treatment　with　butanedioic　acid,　and　with　this　sample,　fast　deactivation　was　detected　after　100　min.　(C)　2016,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.