ABSTRACT The bio-depolymerization of coal is a promising technology for converting coal into low-molecular-weight industrial chemicals. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of biodepolymerized coal (BDC) and the associated depolymerization pathway. We analyzed the extracellular enzyme activities of Hypocrea lixii AH in the biodepolymerization system, performed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) of BDC, and performed gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of the BDC methanol extract. Results showed that the activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), laccase (Lac), and lignin peroxidase (LiP) were 1377, 162, 10, and 1.919 U, respectively. Following biodepolymerization by Hypocrea lixii AH, 20 organic compounds were identified. Benzaldehyde 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy was the most dominant at 33.16%, followed by (Z)-9-octadecenamide, accounting for 14.73%. The aromaticity (f a) decreased from 54.3% to 23.7%, suggesting ring-opening reactions catalyzed by LiP and Lac. The ratio of carbonyl carbon (f a C) increased from 8.3% to 16.2%, suggesting oxidation reactions catalyzed by POD. By comparing the structure of the Fushun oxidized coal model and BDC, a biodepolymerization pathway was elucidated. Biodepolymerization of Fushun oxidized coal is an oxidation–depolymerization process catalyzed by a series of enzymes, which breaks the aromatic rings and oxidizes side chains. Altogether, our findings provide a theoretical support for the chemical application of BDC.