Abstract: Based on the concentration of 7 heavy metals (Pb, Cr, As, Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg) in surface sediments of coastal zones in Jiangsu Province in 2020, we investigated the pollution characteristics and source apportionment. Results show that the average particle size in surface sediments of coastal zones in Jiangsu Province gradually thickened from north to south. The average concentrations of other heavy metals (exclusive of Cr) exceeded the background values of environmental elements in beach soils of Jiangsu Province. The coastal zones in Jiangsu Province in 2020 experienced light pollution and exhibited a slight level of potential ecological risk. Cd was at a level of severe pollution and strong potential ecological risk, while other heavy metals were at a level of mild pollution and slight potential ecological risk. High concentrations of heavy metals in sediments were observed in Haizhou Bay and the Yangtze River estuary. Compared with 2013, the pollution levels of Cd and Zn in coastal zones of Jiangsu Province were more severe in 2020. Heavy metal elements were positively correlated with the average particle size, with the strongest positive correlation with clay. Source apportionment study indicated that heavy metals were originated from four primary sources categories: 1. transportation, shipping, and industrial emissions (Pb and Zn); 2. agricultural production activities and domestic sewage (As and Cd); 3. soil parent material, atmospheric dry and wet deposition (Cr and Hg); and 4. aquaculture production activities (Cu). Compared with the APCS-MLR model, the PMF model demonstrated a relatively weaker explanatory power for the natural sources of heavy metals in the surface sediments of coastal zones of Jiangsu Province. The results of APCS-MLR model indicated that the contribution of the four identified source categories were 27.30%, 35.55%, 31.22%, and 5.93%, respectively. The results shall have important implications for the protection of the coastal ecological environment and the sustainable development in the marine economy of Jiangsu Province.