Late Permian coal-bearing carbonate successions are extensively developed in southern China. Microfacies analyses show that these coal-bearing carbonate successions were deposited in shallow-water carbonate settings comprising restricted platform tidal-flat, restricted platform subtidal, open-platform, marginal shoal, marginal organic reef, and basin facies belts. Coal seams are directly intercalated with carbonate or silicified carbonate rocks in these successions. The microfacies of the roof and floor of coal seams are typically tidal-flat facies laminated clayey algal-clast packstones which suggest that the coal-forming peat swamps were developed on or adjacent to tidal-flats. Three settings for coal accumulation can be recognised, including shallow flat platform, platform interior bank and platform marginal shoal. The coal-forming materials were most likely derived from mangrove-like plants which tolerated variable mixtures of alkaline, brackish and fully marine seawater in tide-influenced swamps which were similar to modern intertidal mangrove swamps. This interpretation is further supported by high organic sulphur contents (6-9%), together with elevated concentrations of Na2O (up to 4.36%), MgO (up to 1.6 to 2.6%) and CaO (up to 2 to 4%). The occurrence of dolomite, calcite and marine fossils within the coals and their partings demonstrates a close marine association.