Coal-resource-based cities have been formed as coal mine developed. Coal mines which came into being in the early times provided large quantity of energy for China's industrial growth, which determines China's coal-resource-based cities through starting, rapid developing, pre-transforming and transforming periods. Coal resource-based cities also altered, some may not belong to coal cities, and some areas are becoming new coal cities. There are totally 73 coal-resource-based cities, 38.9% of resource-based cities (excluding counties and districts), mainly distributing in northeast, central and southern China. Over 100-year's evolution, industrial structure, urban function, mining/city separation, eco-environment of coal-resource-based cities have been becoming the barrier against urban transformation. This paper presents suggestions on guideline of governmental policies, optimizing urban function and improving urban quality.