The 15 parent PAHs in surface seawater from Qingdao coastal areas have been quantified by solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent detection. The results showed that the concentration of total PAHs ranged from 8.23 ng x L(-1) to 272.02 ng x L(-1), with highest concentration near estuary and lowest at rural location. As for PAHs composition, 2, 3 ring PAHs were dominant, with percentage ranged from 52.2% to 93.8%, while the remaining were 4 to 6 ring PAHs which were ranged from 6.2% to 47.8%. The concentration of total PAHs correlates strongly with dissolved organic carbon (R = 0.944 7) in surface seawater. There was no significant fluctuation in the concentration and composition of PAHs in surface seawater from Qingdao bay area in a one-month period. The two ratios of paired PAH isomeric compounds, fluoranthene to fluoranthene plus pyrene[ Fl/(Fl + Py)] and anthracene to phenanthrene plus anthracene [An/(An + Ph)], for source apportionment suggested that various petroleum related sources, such as oil spill and petroleum combustion, were the major origin at most sampling sites, except in clean areas where PAHs were predominantly derived from coal and wood combustion.