[Objective] The heavy metal pollution of topsoil from Yangpu District of Shanghai City was illustrated to provide scientific basis for the application of environmental magnetism in heavy metal pollution.[Methods] A systematic analysis of 17 topsoil samples collected from 5 functional areas in Yangpu District was conducted. The analysis involved magnetic characteristics and heavy metal concentration using magnetic method and traditional chemical method.[Results] The average magnetic susceptibility of the topsoil in Yangpu District was 2.42×10^-6 m³/kg, and the soil was characterized by low-coercivity magnetite and coarse grain size particles. The values of magnetic parameters, including magnetic susceptibility(χ_lf) saturation isothermal remanent magnetization(SIRM), the susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization(χ_ARM), χ_ARM/χ_lf, χ_ARM/SIRM, S-ratio(IRM-300/SIRM) and magnetically hard isothermal remanent magnetization(HIRM)), were high in industrial and traffic area. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr were much higher than the background values. The relatively high heavy metal values were found concentrated in industrial, traffic and residential areas. Generally, the pollution loading index(PLI) value was 1.962, belonging to mild contamination. Except in industrial area, the contents of heavy metal in other areas were significantly correlated with magnetic parameters. χ_lf, SIRM and HIRM can be generally regarded as good indicators of heavy metal concentration of topsoil in Yangpu District.[Conclusion] Environmental magnetism is capable of indicating heavy metal pollution in topsoil.