The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pulping pretreatment on the chemical and optical properties of mechanical pulps. The results are summarized as follows: By the use of chemical preimpregnation, the alcohol-benzene extractives of Douglas fir mechanical pulps reduced from 2.8% to 1.4%. Heat pretreatment is liable to induce the yellowing of mechanical pulp. The succeeding chemical impregnation has negative effect on the whiteness of Douglas fir mechanical pulps, but shows positive effect on that of wood oil tree mechanical pulps. Chemical impregnation can improve the whiteness stability of hydrosulfite bleached wood oil tree mechanical pulps, but have no significant effect on those of peroxide bleached mechanical pulps.