In this paper the contents and distribution patterns of rare earth elements (REE) in soils are discussed based on the analytical data of 20 soil samples collected from Yinji loess profile in Shaanxi Province. There are five buried soils in the loelss profile with a thickness of 39.7 m.. The fifth horizon Qonsists of three closely overlapping buried soils.The contents of La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Tm, Yb and Lu in soils were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA),and the contents of other elements by chemical method. The results showed that the total REE contents of the 20 samples ranged from 157 to 231.68 ppm with au average of 199 ppm, which is close to the contents in shales of north America. The REE contents in various developed horizons of the loess profile were different, but they tended to be, approximately identical after having eliminated the interference of CaCO₃. It seems that the CaCO₃ played a diluent role in various layers.The loess is continental deposits generally rich in the elements of Ce family, with,imilar REE distribution patterns and no remarkable segreaatian in various layers. All these indicate that the loess either in its oribinal region or in the accumulated region has been under dry and asriated conditions since long before, which inevitably results in its weak eluviation process.