A seed germinating method was used to study soil seed banks in dump sites of the Antaibao opencast mine for soil reclamation and ecological rehabilitation. Based on a richness index, a diversity index and an evenness index, the diversity of species of soil seed banks was studied. As well, the progress of vegetation succession in this thoroughly destroyed ecosystem is discussed and the self-renewal ability of the soil seed banks is analyzed. The results indicate that 1) there are 17 plant species belonging to five families with annuals as the dominant species; 2) the soil seed banks at the dump site show great temporal and spatial heterogeneity and 3) the model of Robinia pseudoacacia × Pinus tabulaeformis × Caragana korshinskii in the anaphase is the best among several reclamation models studied. Therefore, with the extension of reclamation time, the correct choice of a reclamation model is quite helpful for the improvement of the self-renewal ability of soil seed banks and for the stability of the ecosystem, which is very important for land reclamation and ecological rehabilitation of the dump sites of the ATB opencast coal mine. A seed germinating method was used to study soil seed banks in dump sites of the Antaibao opencast mine for soil reclamation and ecological rehabilitation. Based on a richness index, a diversity index and an evenness index, the diversity of species of soil seed banks was studied As well, the progress of vegetation succession in this thoroughly destroyed ecosystem is discussed and the self-renewal ability of the soil seed banks is analyzed. The results indicate that 1) there are 17 plant species belonging to five families with annuals as the dominant species; 2) the soil seed banks at the dump site show great temporal and spatial heterogeneity and 3) the model of Robinia pseudoacacia × Pinus tabulaeformis × Caragana korshinskii in the anaphase is the best among several reclamation models studied. Therefore, with the extension of reclamation time, the correct choice of a reclamation model is quite helpful for the improvement of the self-renewal ability of soil seed banks and for the s tability of the ecosystem, which is very important for land reclamation and ecological rehabilitation of the dump sites of the ATB opencast coal mine.