Abstract: The concentrations of 8 metals (Hg, As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni) were measured in the surface soil (0-20 cm) from 89 farmlands in Xuzhou, China. Sources and spatial distributions of the heavy metals were analyzed using multivariate approaches and the ordinary Kriging method. Major conclusions are as follows. The mean concentrations of all 8 heavy metals in the soil were below the critical limits of the national safety standards, therefore meeting the farming requirement. The mean concentrations of Hg, Pb, Cu and Cr were higher than the background values of Xuzhou and Jiangsu, which suggested a potential metal contamination. In terms of the soil type, Cd, As, Cr, Zn and Ni in paddy soil were relatively enriched among different soil plantations. The concentrations of Hg in dark brown soil was relatively low and Pb in yellow soil was high among 4 types of soil. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis indicate that the sources of Cd, As, Cu, Zn and Ni were mainly parent materials, whereas Pb and Hg have anthropogenic sources. High concentrations of As, Zn, Cr and Ni were noted in the north of Tongshan District and Peixian County and in the west of Jiawang District. The concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cu peak was in Pizhou, while the highest concentration of Hg was likely related to human activities in urban areas.