Heavy metals heme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">(Zn,Cr,Pb,Cu,As,Cd and Hgheme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">) of 187 surficial sediments from the outer part of the Yangtze River estuary were tested for study of their spatial distribution pattern and contamination level in this paper. Our results indicate that the contaminations of heavy metals transported by the Yangtze Riv- er are mainly deposited along the Yangtze River estuary-ZheJiang shoreline. The content of heavy metals decreases with the increase in distance from the shore. The contours are almost paralleled with the water- front. The extent of heavy metal contamination is evaluated by Sediment Enrichment Factor heme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">(SEFheme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">) method and Total Potential Ecological Hazard method. The enrichment factor is larger than 2 in the west of 122.5heme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">° E off the Yangtze River estuary and the Zhejiang nearshore as a medium-hazardous polluted environment. The other part of the open sea remains unpolluted or in a-low polluted level with low ecological risk. The spatial distribution pattern of heavy metal contamination level is controlled by the materials from the Yan- gtze River and the Min-Zhe Coastal Current.