The occurrence of coal-bearing strata in China is characterized by the variety of coal-bearing basins,the remarkable spatial and temporal differences of late tectonic deformations.The main controlling factors,which determine the tectonic framework of coalfields,include geodynamic environment,tectonic evolution,deep structures,tectonic stress,and lithologic combination features of coal measures.The continent of China has experienced multi-stage tectonic movements since the late Paleozoic,and due to the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of continental tectonic evolution and the complexity of basement properties,the coalfield structures present complex and ordered patterns.The coalfield tectonic framework of China can be divided into two major coalfield regions,three coal deformation zones,and five coal occurrence structural areas.Taking coal occurrence structural sub-areas as basic units,the tectonic characteristics of five coal occurrence structural areas in China were summarized in this paper.