Based on observating the concentration data of heavy metals including Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd and Cr in the surficial sediments from the Hanjiang upstream, and the data of the content of each heavy metal distribution characteristics, the potential ecological risk of heavy metals in research area were analyzed and assessed by the method of potential ecological risk indices presented by Hakanson. The results indicated that the accumulating order for these heavy metals were Cd >Zn >Pb >Cr >Cu. The single pollution mean coefficient of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr were 1.06, 0.83, 1.25, 1.33, 1.02, respectively. Among which, only Cu was less than 1, indicating slight pollution. The other elements were greater than or equal to 1, indicating moderate pollution. Combining with the heavy metal pollution coefficient(C_d), heavy metal potential ecological risk coefficient E_rⁱ and the potential ecological risk index(I_R) of surficial sediments from Hanjiang River, the contamination level of surficial sediments in Hanjiang upstream was slight ecological risk.