This study conducted literature review on the mercury and chlorine content of coal in China, analyzed the fate of mercury in coal-fired power plants, evaluated the mercury removal efficiencies of PM, SO2 and NOx control devices and developed the mercury emission inventory for coal-fired power plants in China in 2005. Based on the analyses of 177 coal samples, the average mercury content of raw coal samples is 0.17 mg/kg, ranging from 0.01 mg/kg to 2.25 mg/kg. The average chlorine content of raw coal samples is 269 mg/kg, ranging from 30 mg/kg to 3289 mg/kg.