Abstract: Ili loess has regional characteristics such as strong collapsibility and high soluble salt content and has become an important basis for the development of geological disasters in the Ili Valley. Failure mechanism of loess landslides is controlled by the geological properties of the loess and the special environment of the Ili Valley. Ili loess has its own uniqueness due to its unique geographical location and climatic conditions. In this paper, the distribution, genesis and development characteristics of Ili loess are summarized. The effects of moisture content, dry density, vertical load, soluble salt content, matrix suction and freeze-thaw cycles on the hydro-mechanical characteristics of Ili loess are analyzed in detail with indoor experiment, CT scanning technology, SEM and other methods. The Ili loess landslide was classified and summarized from theaspects of geological structure, dynamic conditions and sliding mechanism. The catastrophic mechanism of loess landslide under different dynamic causes was elaborated. It has certain guiding significance and applicable value for the research and prevention of Ili loess landslide and landslide disaster earch and prevention of Ili loess landslide disasters.