[Objective] The distribution characteristics of Benggang in Shangyou County, Jiangxi Province was analyzed, and its risk was evaluated, so as to provide data support and scientific basis for priority decision-making of Benggang governance. [Methods] Shangyou County, Jiangxi Province was taken as the research area. Based on the comprehensive investigation of Benggang and its hazard characteristics, according to the principle of three elements of Benggang risk, the scale and development status of Benggang were selected as the main risk potential indicators of the main body of Benggang. Hazard receptors such as houses, roads, and farmland were selected and combined with the hazard distance as the hazard degree index. The risk evaluation index system of Benggang based on the matrix discriminant method was constructed to explore the accuracy of this method in evaluating the Benggang risk. [Results] ① There were 227 Benggang in Shangyou County, of which 25 had been controlled and 202 had not been controlled. The type of development status was mostly active, scale was mostly large, morphological type was mainly dipper, hazard object was mainly farmland, and hazard distance was mainly less than 10 m. ② In Shangyou County, the proportions of the five risk levels of no, small, medium, large, and great to the number of Benggang was 47.5%,14.9%,15.8%,14.9% and 6.9%, respectively, and the accuracy of on-site verification reached 80%. ③ The Benggang of large and extremely dangerous levels in Shangyou County was mainly distributed in Yingqian Town and Shuiyan Township, and a small part was located in Meishui Township and Huangbu Town, which needs priority treatment. [Conclusion] The matrix discriminant method proposed in this study is accurate and the indicators are easy to obtain. The method is easy to operate and is applicable to the evaluation of the risk of Benggang.