Surface water samples are collected throughout the upstream Liangtan River in December, 2010. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr and Fe, Mn, Mg are determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) respectively for the contamination characteristics analysis and preliminary risk assessment. The results demonstrate that concentrations of 8 heavy metals show significant differences in different sampling sections of the river. The average concentration of Ni, Pb, Fe and Mn are much higher than the limits value of GB 3838-2002 Ⅲ functional area and their section of over standard are 100%, 87.5%, 50% and 43.75%, respectively. Spatial distribution and correlation analysis reveal that Fe and Mn in river may have the same pollution sources. Preliminary health risk assessment results indicate that Pb is the most important pollutant leading to non-carcinogenic concerns in particular for children, and the next is Cr. Mn, Ni, Cu, Fe and Zn in sequence.