HAP-Glass-alpha-Al2O3 gradient coating on alumina ceramics substrate was prepared by multi-layer slurry-dipping and sintering process, effects of the composition of the coating on the microstructure and adhesion strength of the gradient coating were studied. R2O-Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 system glass with low softening temperature and thermal expansion was used in the gradient coating. The composition of the coating was varied from interface to surface layer, i.e. the HAP concentration increased and glass concentration decreased gradually from the under layer to the surface layer. A suitable amount superfine alpha-Al2O3 was added in the gradient coating to reinforce the bonding strength between the coating and substrate. The results show that the use of R2O-Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 system glass is propitious to sintering the coating at low temperature and to combination between the coating and substrate. The addition of superfine alpha-Al2O3 can reinforce the bonding strength between the coating and substrate, the highest bonding strength is about 48.2 MPa.