There are numerous resource-based cities (areas) in China, which have been confronted with severe challenges in social and economic development. Whereas it is another fact that the development of the world economy characterized by nations division previously, is now highlighted by the regional competition due to the coming of knowledge economy. This has made it essential that the regional innovation system be established as the fundamental approach to enhance the regional innovative capabilities and competition significantly. A breakthrough lies in the transition and sustainable development. The inspiration under such a context suggests that the construction and management of the innovation system for the resource-based cities (areas) may provide insight as well as solutions for the problem. This dissertation covers the subject with two milestones: the construction and management of innovation system so as to facilitate their transitions; and the sustainable development as a consequence as well as the purpose of such transitions.First of all, problems have been noticeable in the resourced-based cities (areas) with the declining resources advantages. To probe and trace them, this dissertation applies it from a view of systematic thought, in which the methods like the combination of demonstrative and standardized analysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis, comparative analysis and model analysis are comprehensively applied. It is also pointed out clearly in this dissertation that it is the extreme and persisting dependence on the resources instead of the innovations that has helped lead to the decay of the previously glorious cities (areas). It is further proposed in it that the breakthrough can begun with the transition strengths and its foundation, and supposedly it is primarily achieved through optimizing the economic structure, rationalizing economic operational mechanisms, accelerating economic growth and strengthening cities competitiveness. Thus, the development cycle could be constantly lengthened, which eventually promotes the transitions and sustainable development of the resource-based cities (areas).In the discussion of the research, an analysis is made on the static innovation system, and an organization structure, the spatial structure and the preferable functions are proposed on the basis of the development process of the resources-based cities (areas) and the current situation of the innovation system of them. After a thorough examination on the dynamic innovation system, the operational process and the mechanism are determined. The construction and management model is also accomplished on the basis of the characteristics and the innovation foundation of both the renewable resource-based cities (areas) and the non-renewable ones. The model of the efficacy measurement of the innovation system for the resource-based cities (areas) is then established. Meanwhile, Daqing is analyzed as a typical representative, and some substantial advices as well as effective solutions are made available. During such discussion, the method of the factors-analysis, as one in multiplex statistics, is applied to evaluate the four factors related to the efficacy measurement.To sum up, this research has attempted to enrich the theory of the resource-based cities (areas), broaden the insights in the transition of them, promoted the research and the application of the regional innovation system. Hopefully, such efforts can be of great theoretical as well as realistic importance to help build a harmonious China.