Abstract： Based on the shaking table test of 1∶25 pure loess model with low water content and low angle,  the deformation and instability process of the loess slope under the earthquake were studied, the response characteristic of acceleration and stress was obtained, and the instability mechanism of typical loess slope under strong earthquake was discussed. The results show that the input of seismic wave has a surface and vertical amplification effect on the loess slopes. The top of the typical loess slope appear to have a series of tensile cracks when it suffers from a seismic intensity as high as VIII degree, with the increase of the intensity of the earthquake, the tensile cracks of the top develop from front to back gradually and form a series of permanent tensile failure. The top of the slope appears to have a significant seismic subsidence and presents the typical characteristics of seismic subsidence landslide when the loess slope suffers from a seismic intensity of as high as IX degree.