Optical recording media disclosed herein comprise a substrate and a recording layer formed thereon, wherein the recording layer is irradiated with beam of energy to form thereon bits corresponding to given pieces of information and thereby record the pieces of information. The recording layer comprises Te and Cr, the proportion of Cr contained in said recording layer being 0.1-10 atom % based on the total atoms constituting the recording layer. Processes for preparing the optical recording media disclosed above comprise forming the recording layer comprising Te and Cr on the substrate and then subjecting the thus formed recording layer to heat treatment. Oxidation resistance of said recording layer is improved and accordingly the optical recording medium comprising this recording layer can be expected to prolong its duration of life. This recording layer has excellent recording sensitivity, because the content of Cr in said recording layer is present to 0.1-10 atom %, which is lower than the Cr content in conventional recording layers. According to the process for preparing the optical recording media disclosed above, the resulting optical recording medium further improves in recording sensitivity, notwithstanding that the optical recording medium obtained is improved in durability. Moreover, it becomes possible to enlarge the recording margin.