The surface soil at the 500, 1000 and 3000 m in the east, west, south and north of coking plants were sampled and three methods(single factor index, geo-accumulation index and Hakanson potential ecological risk index) were adopted to assess the potential ecological risk of heavy metals(Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr and Mn) near coking plant in Taiyuan City. Results showed that the concentration of Cd in all soil samples was 2.1~2.7 times of the standard value(Ⅱ) of environmental quality standard(GB15618-1995) for soil, the concentration of the other heavy metals did not exceed the standard values(Ⅱ) and the concentration of six heavy metals was maximum at 1000 m; The relative degree of pollution was in the order of Cd >Cr >Cu≈Zn>Pb≈Mn; Likewise, the potential ecological risk was characterized by the order of Cd >>Pb >Cu >Cr >Zn >Mn and north >west >east >south, and the soil in the research area possessed serious potential ecological risk, specially the potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the north of the coking plant was very serious, in which, Cd was dominant contributors for ecological risk, for it accumulated markedly in soil around the coking plant.