Albic bleached soils derived from loess-like materials on different terraces formed under different historical periods in the Hunhe River of Liaoning Province were studied. Profile morphological features, basic chemical properties and parental material uniformity were detected and used to ascertain the characteristics and formation mechanism of pale color horizons. The stable elements of titanium and zirconium in silts showed that profiles of 21-003, 21-009, 07 and 21-076 in the third terrace share the same parental material with profiles of 21-001, 21-200, 03 and 04 in the second terrace. Soils in the first terrace have no illuvial horizon; soils in the second terrace have illuvial horizons without albic bleached phenomenon or pale color horizon; soils in the third terrace have obvious illuvial horizons, albic bleached phenomena and pale color horizons. The formation of pale color horizon is mainly due to stronger eluviation and illuviation under a longer time period with significant depletions of clays in profiles when compared to soils in the first and second terraces. However, the properties of pale color horizon have not reached the standard regulation for an albic horizon.