Based on the 8 cruises data of surface seawater heavy metals and other related environmental factors from 1997 to 2004 of the South Yellow Sea (SYS), distribution patterns, mechanisms controlling the distributions and pollution levels of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) were studied with the data of 2003-10, and 8-year-fluctuation trends of heavy metals were also discussed. The average concentrations of heavy metals in surface seawater were 2.33, 0.078, 1.41, 0.003 6, 0.37, 6.21 microg/L respectively. The average concentrations showed a relatively stable trend in 8 years, except Zn's distinct upward tendency. The distribution patterns corresponded to the distance away from the coastline,that was, the content of heavy metals (except Pb) was low in central area while high inshore. Those were responses of human activity in the marginal sea, however, in some local areas, Pb was controlled by atmospheric deposition, Cd was relative to pH and salinity, Hg was related to organic carbon, Cu and Zn were influenced by runoff and drainage, and the resuspending of sediments played important roles on the content and distribution of As. Compared to the Marine Water Quality Standard of China, heavy metals indicated that SYS was a first class sea, and Ecological Risk Index analysis showed that SYS was a low ecological risk sea. In conclusion, seawater quality of heavy metals in SYS surface seawater is relatively good in general.