Abstract: The Permian is one of the main coal-bearing strata in the south China region. According to the recent stratigraphic and paleontological data, the Permian coal measures may fall into the following coal-forming periods: （1） the earliest Permian Liangshanian coal-forming period, which occurred along the northern margin of the Jiangnan oldland; （2）the late Early Permian doulingian coal-forming period, which mainly occurred in the southeastern part of the region; （3）the initial early Late Fermian Shahuian coal-forming period, which only occurred in the Enkaitai area, Guangdong province; （4）the terminal early Late Permian Wangpanliian coal-forming period, which occurred in Leping and Fengcheng of Jiangxi province and Quren of Guangdong prov- ince; （5） the latest Permian Jiupuian coal-forming period, which is the main coal-forming one in Lianyang of Guangdong as well as the southwestern area of the region. From east to west, the coal-bearing levels become gradually high. The distribution and migration of different coal-bearing periods is closely related to the advance and retreat of the seawaters and the paleogeographic position. In the future attention should be paid to looking for the coal beds of the Qiupuian coal-forming period and the buried coal fields of this coal-for- ming period.