Display omitted ► Effect of acid rain on leaching and hydraulic characteristics. ► Leaching of calcium and lead are significantly affected by initial pH of acid rain. ► Decreasing rate of hydraulic conductivity is lower in acid rain case. ► Presence of SO42− in acid rain increased the leaching mass and rate of calcium. Remediation of contaminated lands in China urban areas is of great concern. Degradation of construction facilities caused by acid rain is a serious environmental pollution issue in China. This paper presents an investigation of the effects of acid rain on leaching and hydraulic properties of cement-based solidified/stabilized lead contaminated soil. Laboratory tests including infiltration test and soaking test are conducted. It is found that the soil hydraulic conductivity decreases with increase in the pore volume of flow of permeant liquids (acid rain and distilled water). The decreasing rate in the case of the acid rain is lower than that in the case of the distilled water. The soaking test results show that pH and the presence of sulfate ions of acid rain have considerable influence on the leached concentrations and leaching rate of calcium.