Abstract: The concentrations, spatial distributions and sources of heavy metals in the surface sediments of the coastal wetland on the Leizhou Peninsular were analyzed through multiple statistics. The ecological risk assessments of heavy metals were conducted. The mean concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, As, Cd, and Hg were 10.29±7.80, 47.06±28.47, 24.74±10.78, 41.70±26.25, 7.98±4.73, 0.042±0.029, and 0.020±0.027 μg·g^-1, respectively. High positive correlations were found in two groups among the seven metals. The metals including Cu, Zn and Cr in the first group were mainly originated naturally, whereas the second group consisting of Pb, Cd and Hg were originated from both human activities and natural sources. The high concentration areas of the metals were in the Liusha Bay, western Zhanjiang Bay, Hai’an Bay, and western Leizhou Bay. According to the biological effect criterion suggested by the NOAA, nearly no negative effects would occur for the metals in the study area except As. This is because its concentration is between the effect range low (ERL) and effect range median (ERM) level at about 50% of the sampling stations, which indicates the negative effects would occur occasionally. The degree of contamination and potential ecological risk index of the heavy metals were both low for the whole study area. However, the contaminations in some areas such as the western Zhangjiang Bay, Liusha Bay and Hai’an Bay need further investigation and monitoring to avoid inducing ecological risk to benthos under continued accumulation due to human activities.