With the application of ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry), available heavy metals (i.e. As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se, Zn) in the soil of Shell Ridge Island of Yellow River Delta are rapidly determined. The spatial distribution characteristics in the soil of Shell Ridge Island are studied, and the distribution rules and influence factors of available heavy metals in soil are analyzed. As indicated in the conclusion, for the contents of nine available heavy metals in the soil samples from Shell Ridge Island of Yellow River Delta, all elements, except for Cadmium (Cd) and Mercury (Hg), fall far below the level 1 background content as specified in the National Environmental Quality Standard for Soils. In this sense, the overall soil of Shell Ridge Island is at clean level. As indicated in the horizontal distribution, due to more human disturbances at the back side of sea and less seawater leaching, the contents of seven available heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) are significantly higher than that at the seaward side, and there are significant variations (p≤0.05). As indicated in the analysis of longitudinal soil profile, due to the influences of soil mechanical composition, artificial sand borrowing, terrain and water flow direction, the average concentration value of available heavy metals rise with the increased proportion of soil particles (particle size <0.5 mm) in the profile sample whereas declines with the increased proportion of soil particles (particle size >0.5 mm). There is a downward movement trend of the heavy metals in the soil of Shell Ridge Island, and the maximum value of most available heavy metal contents are located at every layer under the surface layer. However, there are no obvious changes in the overall contents of heavy metals in every layer. Such heavy metals as As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the soil of Shell Ridge Island may roughly have the same source, yet different from the source of Hg, Mn and Se. Synoptically speaking, the soil environment in the Shell Ridge Island of Yellow River Delta is not subject to obvious external pollution, while the available heavy metals in the soil of Shell Ridge Island mainly come from the parent material filter feeding bivalve for concentration of heavy metals in seawater, soil particles for the absorption of heavy metals in the environment during weathering process and the migration & transformation of heavy metal pollutants from external industrial regions.