Abstract: Understanding the ponding mechanism and water cycle processes in mining subsidence areas has important practical significance for local ecological environment governance. It can also provide the scientific basis for research on comprehensive utilization of water resources in subsidence areas. This paper puts forth the control equation for mining subsidence areas based on water balance. The relationship between ponding and other hydrological factors is described in detail, and the "river-subsidence area-groundwater" coupling simulation model with a strong physical mechanism is developed based on the distributed hydrological simulation. The model can be used as a quantitative analysis tool for research in aspects of coal mining subsidence areas, such as the mechanism of ponding, transformation of water cycle, prediction of water situation changes, and the influence on the local water cycle due to the subsequent sinkage.