Open-pit coal mining has caused great disturbances to the geomorphology, hydrological cycle, soil and vegetation, and other ecological environmental factors, but the scope and extent of open-pit mining on the plant communities and its stability around the mining area still need to be further studied, and it is only when this issue is clarified that a scientific basis can be provided for the precise policy of revegetation on mining sites. In this paper, the influencing scope and extent of open-pit coal mining on plant communities were analyzed at different distances from the mining area in arid gravel desert areas by quantitative comparing the composition, diversity, productivity and stability of plant communities, and the factors affecting the characteristics of plant communities were explored in combination with the soil and micrometeorological factors. The results showed that: (1) Original vegetation disappeared completely in dump sites, the important value (IV) of dominant species decreased within 0-500 m around the mining area, but the IV of companion species increased. The IV of dominant plants gradually increased with the increasing distance from mining area, and the composition of plant community tended to be stable 800 m away from the mining area. (2) The plant communitys aboveground biomass, diversity and stability within 0-500 m around the mining area decreased by 53%, 70% and 37% averagely compared with 5 000 m areas, respectively. The above plant community indicators did not change significantly beyond 500 m of the mining area, while the vegetation coverage did not show a significant change at different distances around the mining area. (3) Soil water content, organic matter, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soluble salt were positively correlated with plant communitys aboveground biomass, diversity and stability, while soil pH, light intensity and surface temperature correlated negatively with these plant community indicators. These results indicated that the dump sites and 0-500 m around mining area were the priority area to be considered in the process of ecological restoration in open-pit coal mining in arid gravel desert areas. Meanwhile, vegetation was mainly distributed in the depressed micro-topography with relatively good habitats such as shallow gullies and seasonal river channels in study area. Therefore, it was necessary to micro-topography shaping, improve soil quality, and use local species in the process of vegetation restoration. In these ways, a stable and sustainable ecosystem can be achieved in the arid coal mining area.