The low-cost preparation approach of porous cordierite ceramics has always been a research hotspot for experts and scholars. In this study, taking asbestos tailings, fly ash and kaolin as raw materials, porous cordierite ceramics were successfully prepared by direct sintering method without adding foaming agent. The phase evolution, microstructure and physicochemical properties of porous cordierite ceramics were systematically studied. The results show that the increase of sintering temperature and the amount of kaolin contribute to the synthesis of cordierite, and the addition of kaolin can effectively reduce the foaming temperature and increase the porosity of samples. When the calcination temperature is 1 240 ℃ and the mass ratio of roasted asbestos tailings, roasted fly ash and kaolin is 5∶5∶3, the bulk density of porous cordierite ceramics is only 0.6 g/cm3, and the porosity reaches the maximum value of 76.94%. When the calcination temperature is 1 220 ℃ and the mass ratio of roasted asbestos tailings, roasted fly ash and kaolin is 5∶5∶5, the water absorption of porous cordierite ceramics reaches the maximum value of 34.57%. In addition, the porous cordierite ceramics show the good alkali resistance.