Abstract: To obtain the risk of rockburst, based on the geological conditions of Gengcun Coal Mine, the variation of stress and activation of fault were studied when mining in hanging wall or footwall of reverse fault with numerical modeling and similar simulation experiment. By establishing numerical model, the working face was arranged in hanging wall, the variations of stress and slips at different positions of the fault plane were studied during mining, and the activation degree of the fault and rockburst risk were obtained within the distance of 80~10m from fault to working face. The stress distribution and deformation evolution were studied during mining in footwall. By similar simulation experiment, the displacement of the plane and the fault activation were studied during mining in footwall of the reserve fault. Through the comparative analysis of the results of the two methods, it is shown that the risk of fault activation during mining in footwall is higher than in hanging wall. When the working face is 10m away from the fault, it is most likely to lead to fault activation and then rockburst, and the activation area is 20~ 30m above the coal. This study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention of rockburst in mining.