This study investigates the impact of ESG performance on corporate resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, using data from 2993 Chinese A-share listed companies. The research employs OLS and event study methods to analyze how ESG performance influences corporate resilience, particularly in response to systemic crises. Results show that companies with strong ESG performance exhibit greater resilience, with mechanisms including eased financing constraints and enhanced green innovation capabilities. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that ESG's impact is stronger in small firms, state-owned firms, and highly competitive markets. However, powerful CEOs may weaken ESG's effectiveness. Only S and G components (good governance and social performance) significantly enhance corporate resilience. The study highlights the importance of ESG in severely affected areas and provides new insights into corporate crisis response. It also contributes to understanding ESG's role in corporate resilience, offering policy implications for Chinese firms. The study uses the COVID-19 pandemic as an exogenous shock to identify ESG's impact on corporate resilience, addressing endogeneity issues. Findings suggest that ESG performance improves stock returns and corporate value during crises, with mechanisms involving financing constraints and green innovation. The study also explores heterogeneity across firm sizes, ownership, market competition, and CEO power, showing that ESG's effects vary. Overall, the research expands ESG literature, emphasizing its role in corporate resilience and crisis response.This study investigates the impact of ESG performance on corporate resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, using data from 2993 Chinese A-share listed companies. The research employs OLS and event study methods to analyze how ESG performance influences corporate resilience, particularly in response to systemic crises. Results show that companies with strong ESG performance exhibit greater resilience, with mechanisms including eased financing constraints and enhanced green innovation capabilities. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that ESG's impact is stronger in small firms, state-owned firms, and highly competitive markets. However, powerful CEOs may weaken ESG's effectiveness. Only S and G components (good governance and social performance) significantly enhance corporate resilience. The study highlights the importance of ESG in severely affected areas and provides new insights into corporate crisis response. It also contributes to understanding ESG's role in corporate resilience, offering policy implications for Chinese firms. The study uses the COVID-19 pandemic as an exogenous shock to identify ESG's impact on corporate resilience, addressing endogeneity issues. Findings suggest that ESG performance improves stock returns and corporate value during crises, with mechanisms involving financing constraints and green innovation. The study also explores heterogeneity across firm sizes, ownership, market competition, and CEO power, showing that ESG's effects vary. Overall, the research expands ESG literature, emphasizing its role in corporate resilience and crisis response.