Based on the Xigeda clay rock exposed in the back mountain of Nanshan Villa in Xichang City, the microstructure changes of Xigeda clay rock before and after water softening were studied by scanning electron microscope and image recognition of PCAS software. The results show that: (1) the clay rock of Xigeda group has flake and layered micro structural characteristics, and the surface of aggregates in natural state has honeycomb characteristics. After water softening, the aggregate particles decompose, the average size of particles becomes smaller, the honeycomb characteristics disappear, and the surface contours of particles become smooth and round. (2) With the increase of water saturation time, the number of aggregate particles and pores increases, the porosity decreases in advance and increases in the later stage. (3) Micro structural changes of the clay rock in Xigeda formation have two stages, in the first stage, the aggregates decompose and the produced fine granular clays fill the original pores, resulting in the decrease of porosity.In the second stage, the fine clay particles further soften, decompose and lose in the water, the porosity increases suddenly.