Shear strength and unconfined compressive strength pre and after saturation of high liquidlimit soil in different water content and compactness,were studied by the direct box shear test and unconfinedcompression strength test.The results show that the decrease amplitude of cohesion of highliquid limit soil increase apparently nearby the optimum water content and plastic limit;the strength ofsoil reduces sharply on the action of water in low water content and the greater the moisture content,the smaller the strength after saturation decayed;the strength of soil can completely fit the subgradecode in the low water content and high compactness.