Abstract: To investigate the deformation characteristics of loess under harsh circumstances in the Ili region of Xinjiang,a series of loess confined compression experiments were conducted under loading,immersion,and saline conditions considering significant temperature variation,and structural parameters related to volume strain was adopted to analyze loess deformation and collapsibility.Ili loess has distinguished regional features including strong collapsibility,high content of soluble salt and significant temperature variation,while its deformation characteristics are affected by soil composition,microstructural features,and external environmental factors.At ambient temperature,the porosity-pressure curves of remolded loess with an initial moisture content of 6%~17% display similar compressive patterns.The greater the water content of loess soil,the greater the compression deformation and the collapsibility,but saturated loess decreases its sensibility to water and loading effects.Ili loess forms robust microstructure at high temperature and drought conditions,and heavy loading compaction can eliminate loess collapsibility.The evaporation and dehumidification of water in loess leads to the crystallization of salt,enhancing loess microstructure’s stability.Wet mixing process produces more efficient salt cementation in remolded loess compared to dry mixing process.Loess with different initial moisture contents exhibits resistance to compressive loading due to freezing effects below 0℃.The conversion between the ice and water phases in loess at 0~-5℃ is unstable,resulting in certain fluctuations in loess microstructure.