To understand the levels and distribution characteristics of heavy metal contamination of vegetables from vegetable base of Guangdong Province.Methods The contamination of heavy metals including mercury(Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) was analyzed according to GB 2762-2012 in 615 vegetable samples from vegetable bases of 21 cities in Guangdong Province. Results The major heavy metal contamination of vegetables in vegetable bases of Guangdong were Pb and Cd. The main vegetable varieties polluted by lead was leafy vegetables, especially lettuce. The main vegetable varieties polluted by cadmium was solanum vegetables, especially eggplant. Vegetables from four areas of Guangdong Province were polluted by lead in different degree, while the highest content of cadmium in vegetables were found in the northern part of Guangdong (Shaoguan) and the western part of Guangdong (Yunfu).Conclusion Overall, the heavy metal contamination of vegetables in vegetable bases was weak. It needs to pay more attention to the lead and cadmium contamination of vegetables in the northern and western part of Guangdong.