Abstract: The western area of China boasts abundant coal resources. However, the coal-forming environment results in low ash fusion temperatures of the coals. Direct utilization of western coal in coal-fired boilers often leads to slagging, thereby affecting the safe and stable operation of the boiler. To improve the ash melting temperature of western coal, Huainan Zhuji coal with high ash melting point (coal A) was blended with Inner Mongolia Bojianghaizi and Selianerkuang coal (coals B and C) to investigate their impact on the ash fusion temperatures and combustion characteristics. The results indicated that high content of anorthite in the ashes of coals B and C is a main reason for their low ash fusion temperature. Adding 30% coal A in the coals B and C increased the ash soften temperature to above 1350 ℃, reducing the risk of ash slagging in pulverized coal-fired boiler. Comparing with combustion characteristics of the single coals, the blending coals of AB3 (A∶B=3∶7) and AC3 (A∶C=3∶7) exhibited different combustion characteristics. AB3 improves the combustion characteristic while AC3 inhibits it due to the influence of volatile and ash yields.