The invention relates to the activated carbon manufacturing field, in particular to a method of manufacturing columnar activated carbon, and solves the problems of high production cost, environmental pollution, low productivity, etc. caused by the addition of coal tar and hydraulic shaping devices required by the prior columnar activated carbon. A shaping device adopted by the invention when shaping is a feed granulation device manufactured by Fuji Seiki Equipment Manufacture Company, and the type of the shaping device is F-150. When coal is proportioned, coal powder is 72-78 percent, asphalt is 8-12 percent, water is 12-18 percent, the temperature of the coal powder is 18-20 DEG C, the temperature of water is 50-80DEG C, and the coal powder consists of 30-45 percent of soft coal, 25-35 percent of coke powder and 30-45 percent of coking coal. With the adoption of the shaping device, the method has the advantages of low shaping pressure, moderate operation conditions, improved productivity, simple process, reduced environmental pollution, saved heat energy, reduced production cost, and significantly improved the yield of products. The technical data of the prepared finished columnar activated carbon granules can be completely in accordance with the requirements. Furthermore, the method overcomes the technical prejudice of the technical field that only coal tar and the hydraulic shaping device can ensure the shaping of coal quality and the strength of activated carbon.