Abstract: In order to obtain stable large volume discharge plasma at high pressures, the second anode is introduced in the electrode system and a micro-hollow cathode sustained discharge (MCSD) is obtained by using a micro hollow cathode discharge (MHCD) as the electron source of plasma cathode. The discharge image and U-I curve are measured. The influences of the pressure, the distance between the first and second anode, and the voltage on the second anode on the discharge characteristics of MCSD are investigated. In the laboratory conditions, glow discharge plasma with a length of 3~5 cm, a volume of 10 cm³ and an electron density of 10¹¹ cm^-3 is obtained. The experimental results show that, with the increase of discharge current on the cathode, the discharge from MHCD and from the second anode gradually converges at the axial center of discharge, and finally forms MCSD discharge. The formation of MCSD is a process of interaction between MHCD discharge and second anode glow discharge. There is an obvious hysteresis effect in the discharge of MCSD, and the annihilation current of MCSD is obviously smaller than the breakdown threshold current. The second anode bias voltage has a significant influence on the breakdown threshold of MCSD, but has a negligible effect on the annihilation current. The lower the second anode bias voltage is, the more obvious the hysteresis effect of MCSD discharge will be.