The　western　margin　of　Ordos　Basin　is　located　within　a　transitional　zone　which　is　between　two　first-order　tectonic　units　of　distinct　properties,　namely　the　North　China　block　and　the　Qinglin-Qilian-Kunlun　orogen.　Due　to　the　unique　tectonic　setting,　the　study　area　experienced　complicated　tectonic　evolution　and　formed　special　structure　framework　of　coalfields.　The　western　margin　of　the　Ordos　Basin　is　composed　of　two　structural　systems,　respectively　named　the　Helanshan　thrust-nape　system　and　the　eastern　Liupanshan　thrust-nappe　system,　and　is　characterized　by　north-south　trending　segmentation　and　east-west　trending　zoning.　For　the　further　study　of　coalfield　tectonic　evolution　and　its　controlling　factors　at　the　western　margin　of　Ordos　Basin,　this　paper,　based　on　field　geological　investigation　and　coalfield　exploration,　carried　out　the　reconstruction　of　the　subsidence　and　uplift　history　and　the　analysis　of　paleo-　tectonic　stress　fields　since　Late　Paleozoic.　During　the　Indo-Chinese　epoch,　the　maximum　principal　compression　stress　shown　NW-SE　trending　in　the　north　area,　and　show　NE-SW　trending　in　the　south　area.　During　the　Yanshanian　epoch,　the　maximum　principal　compression　stress　show　NWW-SEE　trending　in　the　north　area,　and　show　NEE-SWW　trending　in　the　south　area.　During　the　Himalayan　epoch,　the　maximum　principal　compression　stress　show　NE-SW　trending　in　the　south　area,　but　there　is　NWW-SEE　trending　tension　state　in　the　north　area.　The　relation　between　regional　tectonic　evolution　and　formation　of　structural　framework　in　coalfields　at　the　western　margin　of　Ordos　Basin　was　discussed　by　finite　element　numerical　simulation.　In　addition,　the　close　relation　between　the　formation　of　Helanshan　thrust-nape　structural　system　and　eastward　extrusion　of　Alax　block　is　highlighted.　©,　2015,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.