As China's economy develops at a normal pace, resources-based cities confront a big challenge in falling economy, constraining their transformation, which becomes a key topic to research for nation's development needs. This paper, based on CNKI, CSSCI, CSCD papers 2009 to 2018 regarding resources-based cities transformation, applies intelligence mapping, combined with traditional references research to analyze the reference counts change, magazine distribution and core authors, and uses CiteSpace software to study the common intelligence network and developing trend intelligence mapping. Transformation research of resources-based cities develops fast, mainly on cases, with two major groups of core authors. In recent decade, research domains are focusing on vulnerability and path creation, land use and spatial structural reconstruction, green transformation and sustainable development, industrial upgrade and industrial structural evolution, low carbon economy and eco-environmental management, and transformation efficiency and performance evaluation. The future research shall be on transformation mechanism, global comparison and innovative research.

This paper establishes an evaluation index system for resources-exhausted cities in China, which is used to score their transformation performances, applies hierarchical linear regression to study the internal drives and external factors. Operating environment is one key factor. Marketization level and capital investment impose a notable influence, but the third industry plays a negative role in urban transformation in the short term, positive in the long term. Influencing factors vary with regions and resources types. Resources-exhausted cities should plan their future developing paths according to their localities and predominance to avoid convergence.

This paper uses DEA and input/output model to study their overall energy efficiency, variance and causes among 23 resourcesexhausted cities based on their 2010-2014 data, with results showing a general energy efficiency, but variable with areas. Energy efficiency is positively related to economy, high in developed area. In 2014, 50% of the resourcesexhausted cities are at rising their return stage, leaving big room to improve their energy use efficiency. Some cities bear input redundancy, which need to improve their energy efficiency.

This paper, based on Guiyangs industrial situation and its low carbon transformation advantages and disadvantages, presents a path selection of low carbon transformation and gives suggestions on policy, aiming at providing references for key cities in developing areas to develop in a sustainable way. Developing low carbon economy is a transformation and can promote ecological reconstruction. Guiyang, based on its resource abundance and economic development situation, shall select a low carbon path in saving energy and reducing discharges through low carbon production and living. Suggestions on adjusting industrial structure, constructing ecological industrial zones, saving energy in key businesses, eliminating poor facilities and pushing industrial low carbon are given to establish modern industrial culture of low energy consumption, low pollution, achieving ecological culture and healthy economy in a low carbon route.

It is a global puzzle for resources-based enterprises to transform their industry to achieve the sustainable development. This paper reviews the essence, models, and alternative industries of industrial transformation, attempting to provide some reference for China's resources-based enterprises to transform industries.

Chinese resources-based enterprises are now facing how to transform their industrial modes so as to achieve the sustainable development. The challenges come from the non-recovering resources, deteriorating environment, fast industrial changes, furious market competition, which necessitates an industrial transformation for these enterprises. This paper, theoretically, discusses the transformation modes and presents some suggestions enhancing enterprise's sustainable development, which therefore can boost the local economic and social development where the enterprises are located.