Abstract: Background Ecological restoration in mining areas is a critical component of sustainable development, requiring systematic evaluation of vegetation recovery and soil quality improvement. The findings can provide insights into the efficacy of current restoration strategies and their ecological implications. Methods This study investigated the differences in plant community characteristics and soil properties between artificially restored slopes and undisturbed vegetation areas in three coal mining sites (Huafu, Mengxiang, and Tingziyan) within the Zhungeer Banner, Inner Mongolia. Results 1) A total of 71 plant species belonging to 53 genera and 21 families were recorded across the studied sites. The dominant families were Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae. Distinct differences in dominant species composition were observed between undisturbed and restored areas. Undisturbed vegetation areas were primarily dominated by Armeniaca sibirica, Caragana korshinskii, and Artemisia capillaris, whereas artificially restored slopes exhibited dominance by artificially cultivated species such as Picea asperata, Artemisia ordosica, and Medicago sativa. 2) Species diversity indices revealed significant disparities between restored and undisturbed areas.The Simpson diversity index and the Margalef richness index in Huafu restored slopes were 35 % - 70 %, 10 % - 45 % lower than those in undisturbed areas, while the Shannon - Wiener diversity index decreased by 57.4 % (P < 0.05). However, the Pielou evenness index showed no statistically significant difference across sampling sites, suggesting that species distribution uniformity remained relatively stable despite reduced overall diversity. 3) Soil properties were markedly improved through artificial restoration. Restored slopes exhibited a 3 - 7 % reduction in soil pH compared to undisturbed areas, alongside substantial increases in organic matter cotent (100 - 500 %), total nitrogen content (54%), and available phosphorus cotent (93 - 99 %)(P < 0.05). Heavy metal analysis indicated that arsenic (As) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in restored slopes were elevated by 130 - 470 % and 28.5 %, respectively, compared to undisturbed sites (P < 0.05). In contrast, mercury (Hg) and nickel (Ni) levels decreased significantly by 95 - 97 % and 30 - 65 % (P < 0.05), though all detected heavy metals remained within permissible thresholds for soil safety. 4) Correlation analyses highlighted strong interactions between species diversity and soil factors. Species diversity indices showed positive correlations with pH, organic matter content, lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) content but negative correlations with total nitrogen. These relationships underscore the importance of integrating soil quality management with vegetation community design in restoration practices. Conclusions Ecological restoration efforts in Zhungeer Banne have achieved preliminary success in enhancing soil fertility and stabilizing pioneer plant communities. However, the reduced biodiversity in restored slopes emphasizes the need for optimizing species selection and fostering native dominated communities. Future strategies should prioritize synergistic management of soil health and vegetation structure to ensure long - term ecosystem resilience.