Tongling city as a typical resources-based city depends solely upon resources economy, although it has a good economic development trend. When the resources are depleted, the economy declines. Now Tongling enters into a key time for development as resources are gradually consumed, which necessitates an economic transition. This paper, via SWOT analysis, discusses the pros and cons, challenges and opportunities of economic transition, concludes that Tongling should select a favorable strategic economic transition based on its advantage of resources so as to optimize the economic structures.