1,4-Butanediol is an important fine chemical product and on important raw materials for the production of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) engineering plastics and fibers, tetrahydrofuran(THF), γ-butyrolactone(GBL) , polyurethane artificial leather, polyurethane elastomer and polyurethane sole rubber. At present, the technological methods for realizing industrial production of 1,4-butanediol mainly include four methods: butadiene method, propylene oxide method and maleic anhydride method. In order to select the appropiate technical route of 1,4-butanediol,the production principle, the source and characteristics of process technology, the source of raw materials, the technical economy, etc., were discussed, compared and analyzed. Combined with China's energy policy and local resources, and the raw material resource advantages, product structure, scale, investment and other factors of construction unit, it is recommended to use acetylene aldehyde production process in China's rich coal area.