Abstract: The content and spatial distribution of Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr and Cu in paddy soils in hilly areas in the east of Guangdong Province, which are agricultural areas and not traditionally focused on, were investigated. The environmental quality was assessed and the source of heavy metals was analyzed. The results showed that the ave-rage concentrations of heavy metals in soil were all lower than the risk control values of pollution in farmland soil in the national standard. The exceeding standard rate of samples based on the screening value was less than 10%. The soil environmental quality was generally good, and the risk of exceeding the standard of heavy metals in agricultural products was low. The possible sources of heavy metals in the soil mainly include the soil parent material disturbed by human activities, the industrial pollution, the undisturbed soil parent material and traffic pollution, which affect the content and spatial distribution of the heavy metals Cd, As, Cr, Cu, Hg and Pb respectively. It is suggested that attention should be paid to environmental planning, management and pollution prevention and control in the development of agricultural economy, industrial economy and public service system. Further ecological risk assessment and cooperative monitoring of agricultural products should be carried out for mildly and moderately polluted soils based on the screening values. Non-edible crops should be planted in a very small number of area with severely polluted soil.