Abstract: With the rapid industry development and population expansion since the beginning of the 20th century, the concentrations of heavy metals in agricultural soils have become increasingly high in China. Heavy metal pollution in paddy soil not only results in retardation of rice growth and development and subsequent yield losses but also is readily absorbed and accumulated by rice plants. By entering the food chain, it could threaten human health and damage the food safety in China. This paper reviews research advances into absorption, translocation and distribution of heavy metal in rice crops and its mechanisms and offers suggestions for future research.