The Ceshui Formation(C_1) is one of the major coal-bearing strata in SouthChina, and developed well in central Hunan. Researches in central Hunan showthat the Ceshui Fornation formed in a clastic shoreline barrier-lagoonal deposi-tional systein, which includes the tidal flat, lagoon, barrier sand bar, offshore muddyshelf and offshore carbonate shelf environments. The coal--forming seams developedfrom the lagoon and tidal flat environments of this system. The coal accumulation and the formation of coal measures were also control-led by the sea--level changes (most probably sea--level changes controlled by gla--ciers). The formation of coal seam Nos. 3 and 5 in the area is related to the "epi-sodic" coal accumulation coutrolled by sea-level changes. The episodic coal accu-mulation refers to the regional coal accumulation that occurred across differentfacies areas during the stage (phase) of sea-level fall. The large-scale coal accu-mulation for the Ceshui Formation ended with the regional sea-level rise repre-sented by basal sandstone of the Upper Member, and the ultimate cease of thecoal accumulation was due to drying and warming of the climate.