The physicochemical properties of Shengli lignite dewatered by three methods in hot air, microwave and vacuum conditions were investigated. The effects of drying methods on the coal pore structure, surface morphology, surface carbon-containing groups and moisture re-adsorption performance of dewatered lignite were studied by Brunner-Emmet-Teller method (BET), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic water vapor sorption analyzer (DVS). The results indicate that a large quantity of semi-opened micropores and open ended mesopores which shaped like slit or cylinder exist in lignite. The specific surface area and total pore volume value of dewatered lignite decrease as Downloaded by [Texas A & M International University] at 09:14 23 August 2015 2 follows: microwave dried lignite (MD) > vacuum dried lignite (VD) > hot air dried lignite (HAD), which consistent with MIP results. SEM images exhibit that lignite dried by different methods are characterized with various surface morphology. The XPS results reveal that VD has the highest content of C-C/C-H and the lowest content of C-O, while HAD has a higher content of C-O and a higher surface oxidation degree (α) than MD.Besides, the moisture re-adsorption capability of the dewatered lignite follows the sequence as MD > VD > HAD.