Abstract: The reserves and production of thick coal seams account for half of the total reserves and production of raw coal in China. By combing the history of thick coal seam mining, we summarize the technology and equipment development practice of thick coal seam mining in China over the past 40 years, explained the development history from the introduction of large mining height technology and equipment to the successful development of the first domestic large mining height hydraulic support to the world’s first 8m-class large mining height comprehensive mining face production. Summarizing the research progress of high-efficiency and intelligent comprehensive mining technology and equipment for large mining height, represented by high-end large mining height hydraulic support and intelligent coupling theory of surrounding rock. Clarifying that the breakthrough of large mining height support theory and intelligent coupling control of the surrounding rock is the primary factor for the breakthrough of the primary mining height of thick coal seam. The establishment of a perfect perception system is a prerequisite for the adaptive support of the hydraulic support. The application of digital technology provides a new technical way for efficient advancement of large mining face and intelligent cooperative control of equipment. Clarified the coupling relationship between large mining height integrated release hydraulic support and surrounding rocks, illustrates the favorable influence of increasing mining height on hard coal seam venting, then an intelligent coal discharge control strategy based on coal gangue identification and coal discharge mechanism control, which includes “pure coal segment memory coal discharge + coal rock boundary fuzzy segment manual feedback intervention coal discharge” is proposed. The key technology of intelligent coupling control for large-scale mining and transportation cooperation is pointed out. It is pointed out that the multi machine heterogeneous coupling adaptive collaborative control between working face equipment is a key factor for the success of intelligent mining. The linkage adjustment between the traction speed of the shearer and the chain speed of the scraper conveyor is a necessary means to adapt to large-scale mining and transportation. Then research and development directions for breakthroughs in the height of primary mining of thick coal seams from the aspects of mining equipment, control systems are proposed.