$TiO_2$-coated fly ash was synthesized by dropping method of coating agent in order to get $TiO_2$ coating layer with high photocatalytic activity on the surface of coal fly ash. The properties of the $TiO_2$ coating layer such as morphology, crystal structure, crystal size and photocatalytic activity were compared with those of the $TiO_2$-coated fly ash prepared by the traditional method of precipitation. $TiCl_4$ aqueous solution was used as a titanium stock solution and $NH_4HCO_3$ was used as a precipitant. The $TiO_2$ coating layer obtained by dropping method of coating agent was more uniform than that coated by precipitation. However, the crystal of $TiO_2$ coated by dropping method of coating agent was easy to grow by heat treatment because of the small primary particle size and bulky morphology, and its photocatalytic activity was consequently lower than that of the $TiO_2$ coated by precipitation. The $TiO_2$ coating layer obtained by both methods had a crystal structure of anatase, and the temperature of phase transformation into rutile was 90$0^{circ}C$. The minimum crystal size of $TiO_2$ for the highest photocatalytic activity was found to be about 10nm.