The main objective of this paper is to study characteristics of selenium distribution in soils and their relationships to genesis and physio-chemical properties of the soils in Nanning City. A total of 2 767 samples of surface soils (0~20 cm) and 711 of parent materials were collected for analysis of total soil selenium with atomic fluorescence spectrometry and soil properties with various methods. Results of the analysis show that concentration of total selenium in the surface soils ranged from 0.09 mg kg^-1 to 1.34 mg kg^-1 and averaged 0.57 mg kg^-1. Among the different types of parent materials, the lowest and highest concentrations were recorded in Permian carbonate was the highest in total Se content, averaging 0.79 mg kg^-1 and Cretaceous purplish clastic rocks the lowest, averaging 0.39 mg kg^-1, while among the different types of soils, Alluvial soil was the highest, averaging 0.89 mg kg^-1 and purple soil the lowest averaging 0.37 mg kg^-1. Obviously soil parent material is the major factor that influences selenium concentration and distribution in the soils in Nanning, whereas soil pH, and contents of organic matter, iron and aluminum are also factors of certain significance.