China's economy has transitioned from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development, thereby entering a pivotal period wherein the optimization of its economic structure and the transformation of its development mode are of utmost significance. Against this backdrop, the present paper endeavors to investigate whether green finance can effectively mitigate the perils associated with the "resource curse." We measure the coefficient of the resource curse of each province in China and make a specific analysis of its "resource curse" situation. Subsequently, utilizing inter-provincial panel data spanning the years 2011 to 2020, we employ both the fixed effect model and mediating effect model to examine the impact and mechanisms through which green finance can effectively counteract the resource curse. The research findings corroborate the widespread prevalence of the "resource curse" phenomenon across China, with the western region being particularly severely affected. However, on the whole, the majority of provinces in China have experienced some degree of alleviation about this phenomenon. Furthermore, green finance can effectively curtail the occurrence of the "resource curse." Additionally, it can dismantle the resource curse by attracting foreign investments, fostering technological innovation, and facilitating the transformation of the industrial structure. Hence, it is crucial to enhance the development level of green finance, expedite the transformation of regional industrial structures, fully unleash the potential of green finance in mitigating the "resource curse," and ultimately achieve high-quality economic growth at the regional level. We believe that this study can offer novel insights and recommendations to government agencies, financial institutions, environmental organizations, and relevant scholars in their collective endeavors to address the challenges posed by the "resource curse" within the realm of green finance.