Abstract: The hydrocracking experiment of medium temperature coal tar atmospheric residue (MCAR,＞350 ℃ fraction) was conducted in a magnetic-stirred autoclave to simulate the situation in real slurry-bed and the influence of reaction pressure, temperature, catalyst, additive and time was investigated. Then the pilot scale test was performed in a slurry-bed hydrocracking pilot plant with a 3 000 mL loop reactor under the optimal conditions determined by the above test. The results show that when the reaction conditions are 425 ℃, initial hydrogen pressure of 9 MPa (reaction pressure of 12.5 MPa), reaction time of 60 min, space velocity of 1.0 h-1, fresh H2 rate of 1 800 L/h , and the dosage of oil soluble Mo-Ni bimetallic catalyst, additive (SDBS) and sulfur of 150 μg?g-1, 200 μg?g-1and 400 μg?g-1, respectively, the total yield of naphtha, diesel and wax oil is 88.26% and vacuum residue is only 7.98% for 24 h operation. Furthermore, the light oil yield per unit of coke formed is up to 48.13%.