Abstract: The development and distribution of the carboniferous system in the eastern part of the Hexi corridor were controlled by the foreland basin of the later Palaeozoic period. Although there are differences between regions which lie to the east and west of Wuwei county, both of the two regions have the same fea- tures of subsidence center and coal-forming center which migrated from south to north, and the change of orientation of transgression is SW-SWW-NWW. The coal-forming center is supposed to be situated at the southern edge of the western middle rising and nearby. Under the thrust faults and in front of the niorthern Qilian mountains there may be a better prospect for further exploration.