Co-pyrolysis　product　of　coal-tar　pitch　and　rosin　was　used　as　a　precursor　to　prepare　high　surface　area　activated　carbons　(ACs)　by　KOH　activation.　The　influences　of　AC　precursor　origin,　KOH/AC　precursor　weight　ratio　and　activation　time　on　the　pore　characteristics　of　the　ACs　were　investigated,　and　meanwhile　their　electrochemical　performance　was　studied.　The　results　show　that　adding　rosin　results　in　a　decrease　in　the　C/H　atomic　ratio　of　AC　precursor　as　well　as　a　significant　increase　in　its　mesophase　content,　which　favors　the　porosity　development　in　ACs　during　KOH　activation.　The　effect　of　adding　rosin　on　the　porosity　characteristics　of　the　ACs　can　be　illustrated　by　increases　in　the　BET　surface　area　from　1846　to　2847　m2/g　and　the　total　pore　volume　from　1.09　to　1.57　cm3/g.　In　addition,　the　ACs　possess　good　electrochemical　performance,　as　indicated　by　that　they　have　a　maximum　specific　capacitance　of　203　F/g　and　exhibit　good　rectangular-shaped　I-V　curves　in　cyclic　voltammetry.　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.