The invention discloses a method for preparing 1,3,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,4-tetrahydronaphthalene by continuous reaction under catalysis of ionic liquid, which comprises the steps of: with acid room-temperature ionic liquid as a catalyst, cyclic hydrocarbon as a solvent, and cymene and olefin as raw materials, conducting alkylation reaction in the existence of a hydrogen transfer reagent, wherein the acid room-temperature ionic liquid catalyst is prepared by reaction of metal halide and alkyl-containing pyridine halogenated amine, alkyl-containing hydrogen halide of amine or alkyl-containing halogenated amine of imidazole. The method for preparing 1,3,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,4-tetrahydronaphthalene has simple technical process, higher product selectivity and relatively considerable yield; the ionic liquid catalyst adopted in reaction can be separated from the reacting liquid easily and can be recycled; and the three industrial wastes are not generated in the technical process, thus the method for preparing 1,3,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,4-tetrahydronaphthalene is a green and environment-friendly technique.