Coal liquids, obtained by hydroliquefaction of 3 Chinese bituminous coals, were separated into fractions and analyzed by gas chromatog., liquid chromatog., vapor-phase osmometry, and NMR spectroscopy. The main compounds are mono- and diaroms. (80%) in the light oil and mono-, di-, and triaroms. (>80%) in the synthetic crude from the 3 coals. The concentration of monoaroms, increase and polyaroms decrease substantially with increasing liquefaction temperature, but saturates increase only slightly (possibly indicating that saturation of aromatics proceeds more rapidly than hydrocracking of aliphs.). Under mild liquefaction conditions, saturation and alkyl substitution of the aromatic rings are the main reactions; in all, the composition of the liquids appears to be more closely related to liquefaction conditions rather than to the type of coal. The temperature of liquefaction has a profound effect on oil quality in comparison with flow rate during liquefaction.