Abstract: Vertical transport characteristics of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) were simulated in indoor soil columns, and factors impacting the transport were investigated. The results indicated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulated mainly at the topsoil of the column after leaching. The contents of PAHs decreased with increased depth in the columns, but to different degrees in different columns. As far as the same soil horizons were concerned, the saturated hydrocarbon compositions were different between the original soil samples and the samples in the soil columns, which indicated vertical transport of these compounds. However, the vertical transport depths of different compounds (n-alkanes, terpenes and steroids, alkyl cyclohexane) were different, which indicated different transport abilities of the sub-components of the saturated hydrocarbons. The characteristics of the contents and compositions of PHs at different depths in the soil columns indicated that the main factors impacting PH vertical transport were total organic carbon (TOC) and petroleum viscosity.