The transient temperature fields and the surface acoustic waves generated by a pulsed line-source laser in thick hollow cylinders are analyzed by using a finite element method. A series of the time domain waveforms of the surface normal displacements are shown for different angles between the source and the detection point from =5° to =180° in an anti-clockwise direction. And the surface acoustic waves generated in hollow cylinders with the same thickness and the different outer radii are compared. The numerical results denoted that the main features of the surface waves are three kinds of waves—the surface skimming longitudinal wave, head wave and the Rayleigh wave. And the first Rayleigh pulse′s polarity changes gradually with the propagating angle increment. The Rayleigh pulse is monopolar (negative) near the source, becomes bipolar completely at the point of =90° and monopolar (positive) at =180°. If neglected the diffraction effects, the polarity of the first Rayleigh pulse is only determined by the angle between the source and the detection point, and not related to the size of the specimen.