Abstract: To characterize the soil pollution, pollution source and potential ecological risk from heavy metals in the garlic producing area in Jinxiang, eight heavy metals were analyzed and evaluated by using geoaccumulation index, pollution index, potential ecological risk index, health risk index and factor analysis method. The results showed that the average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn did not exceed the specified value prescribed by “Environmental Quality Standards for the Origin of Edible Agricultural Products”, indicating that heavy metals were at clean levels at most sites. The potential ecological risk of Cu, Hg, As, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn is low in soil in eight heavy metals, and there is no considerable non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks for children and adults from these elements. Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn may mainly come from agricultural activities such as fertilization, pesticide application, and irrigation. As and Hg may come from atmospheric subsidence generated by local coal production activities. In all, the soil quality in this area is at a clean level. The supervision of inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water and the dust removal of local coal production and related industrial activities should be strengthened in the future to ensure the green and sustainable production capacity of soil in the garlic production area.