The effects of kaolinite clay on the microstructure (pore structure, internal structure) and mechanical properties (workability, early-age and long-term flexural strength, chloride diffusion property) of the cementitious composites were tested. It is shown that the addition of clay improves the micro-pore structure in the cement paste and limits the introduction of chloride ions. As a result, it is suggested that the kaolinite clay would act as both filler and accelerator of cement hydration. Compared with the control specimen, the flexural strength of cement paste with 1% kaolinite clay increased by 30.41%, 39.04%, 36.27% and 38.32% at 1, 3, 7 and 90 curing ages, respectively. The 28-day flexural strength increased slightly. It is observed that the clay modified cement mortar has lower chloride diffusion coefficient values compared to the plain mortar, and the 28-day DCl of cement mortar decreased by 53.03% with 5% clay. Compared with the controlled sample, the increase in compressive strength and the reduction in chloride diffusion coefficient of the concrete with 5% clay addition is 28.4% and 18.87% respectively. The chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete decreases with the amount of clay addition exponentially. The 28-day compressive strength increases linearly with the chloride diffusion coefficient of the concrete.