To investigate effects of the interactions between river water and groundwater on soil environment along river banks, thirty-one soil samples were collected from 6 soil profiles, different in distance from the river, located along the Shima River in Dongguan City in China of and analyzed for heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) by ICP-AES, and luminescent bacterium(Vibrio fischeri, LUMIStox 300) inhibition rate of soil extracted with deionized water. Results show that the concentration of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn was 2.8～11.2mg kg^-1, 9.7～298mg kg^-1, 11.4～69.7mg kg^-1 and 40.4～465mg kg^-1, respectively. Cd reached 6.06 in geo-accumulation (Igeo), and the level of extremely severe pollution. In terms of Igeo, the heavy metals followed the sequence of Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Mn >As > Pb > Fe. Differences between the soils in concentrations of the heavy metals were related to their soil organic matter (SOM) content and fraction of micro particles (< 63 μm, CSP). Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Mn concentration was significantly and positively related (p<0.05 or p<0.01) to SOM content and Cr and Ni concentration was to the fraction of micro particles. In terms of toxic unit (∑TU, mean of the whole profile), the six soil profiles followed an order of S3 > S2 > Sb > S1 > S4 > Sa. Profile S3 was the highest in ∑TU (5.51), belonging to the moderate toxic level. And the luminescent bacterium inhibition rates of their soil extracts varied in the range from 2.45% to 16.5%, indicating that the heavy metal pollutions in these soils could be sorted into the category of low or non toxicity. Bio-toxicity test could be used to better represent and characterize the eco-toxicity of polluted soils as some speciation of heavy metals in soil may be not bio-available.