To explore the aluminum contamination in some foods in Guangxi, and assess the dietary exposure risk of aluminum.Methods Surveillance data of aluminum content in some foods was collected from 2009 to 2013. According to the average food consumption from nutritional and health status survey of Guangxi residents in 2002, the dietary aluminum exposure was assessed by the actual content. Results 5 679 food samples of 10 categories were tested. The average aluminum content was 132.17 mg/kg, the detection rate was 73.01% (4 146/5 679) and the violation rate was 29.51% (1 676/5 679). The detection and violation rate of jellyfish, laver and fried bread stick was higher then other food, so was the content of aluminum. The average aluminum content of fried bread stick was the highest (382.18 mg/kg) which was 3.8 times of the standard. The average weekly aluminum intake from 10 food categories was 0.426 mg/kg BW, and was lower than PTWI (2 mg/kg BW) recommended by JECFA. Aluminum exposure of population with high consumption of steam bread, jellylish, fried bread stick and deep-fried dough cake was 3.07,2.40,2.23 and 1.23 times of PTWI, respectively. Conclusion The aluminum residue in fried bread stick, jellyfish and laver was serious in Guangxi. The dietary aluminum exposure of gernal population was lower than PTWI, but the high consumption population was at risk. In order to reduce dietary aluminum intake, technical guidance on scientifical and rational application of aluminum-containing food additives should be strengthened.