The features and kinetics of pyrolysis of three maceral groups, vitrinite, liptinite and fusinite are investigated and measured by DTA-GC system in a stream of nitrogen at the pressure of 0.1 and 0.5 MPa and a heating rate of 10K/min up to 1373K. The chemical structures of these macerals were examined by C-13-NMR. Their morphologies were observed by SEM before and after pyrolysis. The results show that the pyrolysis of Pingshuo coal macerals consists of two stages : the first is thermal decomposition of a metastable plastic intermediate formed from the maceral particles and the second is the thermal polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons produced in the first stage. Each stage is a first-order reaction. The thermal effect of the liptinite and vitrinite is significant and the morphologies are changed significantly during pyrolysis. Increase in pressure decreases the activation energy of pyrolysis reaction but it is not favorable for hydrogen generation reactions.