Preferential flow plays an important role in water and contaminants transporting in the soil. The aim of this study is to investigate characteristics of soil preferential flows in different vertical traps in mountains along the Dalaoling-Dengcun section of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, using the section staining method coupled with image analysis, and hence to analyze impact of preferential flows on water infiltration in the profile. Results show that the mountain yellow brown earth under evergreen-decidous broadleaf mixed forest in the mid-mountain belt and the mountain yellow earth under low-mountain warm coniferous forests have soil pores large in aperture and extensive in distribution, which is conducive to formation of preferential flows, and water infiltration. In deserted farmland, the large-pored soil structure is damaged by tillage in the past, the paths of preferential flows differ from those in the forest soils, and consequently its water infiltration intensity is low and the color of the stained area is light. Characteristics of preferential flows differ significantly between soil layers. Burrow flows occur frequently in the humus horizon, and soil water percolate down rapidly through macropores, exchanging little with surrounding soil matrix. In the leaching illuvial horizon, burrow flows disappear or weaken, while lateral percolation intensifies. The low-mountain yellow earth under warm coniferous forests is rather coarse in texture, and macropores mainly in the form of crack or fissure appear, making crack flows the preferential flows. In deserted farmland, finger flows dominate in all the genetic horizons with the area of stained section diminishing with soil depth, however, lateral percolation remains basically constant in these horizons. In conclusion, vegetation-soil vertical zonal distribution is the major cause of the difference existing in preferential flow between mountain soils. In eco-environment construction in the maintain regions, it is essential to promote development of preferential flows in the soil.