Abstract: The spatial pattern is the direct reflection of urban development process.Since the coal resource-based city is developing sustainably, so researching the spatial pattern of this kind of city can provide the initiative and quantitative scientific data for the future development of it.Through the analysis of studies, main ideas and methods and techniques of the domestic scholars toward coal resource-based city, the authors summarize four main research emphasis, namely the coal resource-based city’s evolutionary characteristics and models, the evolutionary dynamic mechanism and its influenced factors, relevant optimizing research and strategic research.Then it is concluded that a complete research system of coal resource-based city is not established currently, owing to the deficient study methods and inadequate multi-disciplinary syncretism.In order to promote the sustainable development of coal resource-based city, the researchers should pay attention to explore more research methods and the depth and breadth of research contents, and to optimize the research system.