Abstract：There are 63 coal-mining cities with the population of 100, 000, 000 in China, which takes up about 10% of the present 668 cities and China's total population respectively, and all the 63 coalmining cities appeared in the 20th century.Therefore, it is of great significance to confirm the definition of coal-mining cities, review their origin and evolution in China, analyze the characteristics of their evolution and summarize the problems in their developmental process.The diachronic research of their evolution can make a tremendous difference in the sustainable development of coal-mining cities and has some reference for the development of China's urbanization and industrialization.

Keyword：20th century;China's coal-mining cities;sustainable development;