In order to study the content of heavy metals in paddy soil-rice system in typical areas of southern China. Soil, rice and irrigation water samples were collected from six typical paddy fields in Jinxian, Jinxi, Yushui, Gao"an, Anfu and Xingguo County of Jiangxi Province. The contents of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in soil and rice and soil nutrients were analyzed. The content of heavy metals in soil-rice system was evaluated by single factor pollution index and Nemero comprehensive index. Results showed that the mean values of soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were 5.48,32.99 g/kg, 2.06 g/kg, 0.54 g/kg, 16.04 g/kg, 156.71 mg/kg, 14.00 mg/kg and 94.98 mg/kg, respectively. The total average contents of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury were 35.46, 0.18, 7.21 and 0.17 mg/kg in the soil of the study area. The single factor pollution index was less than 1, the Nemero comprehensive pollution index was 0.56, and the soil environmental quality grade was clean. While the soil cadmium content was 0.37 mg/kg in Yushui, exceeding the limit standard (0.30 mg/kg), and the soil environmental quality was alert. The total average contents of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury were 0.06, 0.17, 0.24 and 0.0086 mg/kg in brown rice of the study area. The single factor pollution index was less than 1, and the average Nemero comprehensive pollution index was 0.77. The environmental quality grade of brown rice was alert. The cadmium contents in brown rice of Xingguo and Yushui were 0.22 and 0.35 mg/kg, which exceeded the limit standard (0.20 mg/kg). The environmental quality grades were warning limit and mild pollution, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that cadmium in brown rice was significantly positively correlated with cadmium and lead in soil, while negatively correlated with arsenic in soil. The arsenic in brown rice was significantly positively correlated with arsenic and available phosphorus in soil. In short, heavy metal cadmium is the most important potential pollution element for rice safety in the survey area, and it is necessary to focus on rice food safety in Xingguo and Yushui.