The research on spatial variability, accumulation and transfer of soil mercury (Hg) has great reference values to soil utilization, environmental assessment and polluted soil remediation. Mercury in the soil, rice and atmospheric deposition in an area with fast developing economy in the South Jiangsu was analyzed. It was found that on average, the soil total Hg was 1 345 μg kg^-1, available (HCl-extractable or HCl-Hg) 51 μg kg^-1, Hg in rice 20 μg kg^-1 and Hg in atmospheric deposition 5.13 g km^-2 30d^-1. Spatially, high Hg concentrations in soil and rice were found mainly in places closely around the town, and the concentration decreased exponentially with the distance of the sampling site from the town. Atmospheric Hg deposition was found low in variability within the whole study area. Mercury in the soil accumulated mainly in the 0 ~ 20 cm soil horizon, however, Hg accumulation could still be found at 60 cm in depth. The percentages of soil Hg in mobile and semi-mobile state to total Hg did not vary much in the whole soil profile. Obvious soil Hg accumulation observed in the studied area led to higher Hg concentrations in rice. The concentration in quite a number of sampling sites already exceeded the second grade criterion of the National Standard for Soil Environmental Quality (300 μg kg^-1) and the National Food Safety Standard (20 μg kg^-1), and would bring about hazard to the environment quality and human health. The fact that balance is maintained between the soil conditions and Hg accumulation in soil and the low atmospheric Hg deposition indicate that the ongoing accumulation is not as significant. Measures such as remediation of the polluted soil or rotation of low-Hg-uptake crop species should be taken to reduce soil Hg or to inhibit Hg uptake by crops, and hence to achieve the target of environmental management.