To assessment pollution of heavy metal and nitrogen in surface sediments of the Shaying River, sampling had been conducted during the period from June to September of 2015. The nitrogen occurrence characteristics and its transformation mechanism in surface sediments of the Shaying River were studied, as well as the distribution of heavy metal. Results showed that the contents of NO^-₃-N, NH⁺₄-N, organic nitrogen(ON)and total nitrogen(TN)in sediment were 21. 47~53. 60 mg/kg, 1. 702 3~3. 066 1 mg/kg, 1 050~2 390 mg/kg and 1 071~2 488 mg/kg, respectively, and ON accounted for 97. 17% of TN. While the contents of Cd, Cu, Zn, and As were 1. 583~3. 533 mg/kg, 21. 98~64. 60 mg/kg, 148. 5~165. 5 mg/kg and 1. 527~2. 416 mg/kg, separately. Pearson correlation analysis showed nitrogen in surface sediments were mainly existed in organic matter, while sediment could be an important source to the NH⁺₄ in the water body. Organic index and organic nitrogen of sediments, fell into the level II and the level IV, respectively, implying light organic carbon pollution but serious nitrogen pollution in the sediments. The potential ecological risk(I_R)of heavy metals showed that potential ecological risk of heavy metals has reached very high potential ecological risks, in which the contribution of Cd to I_R was about 97. 22%.