Based on the soil classification, 24 typical sections and 137 soil samples were excavated from the paddy soils in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area of Hunan typical parent material distribution area, namely, alluvial sandy soil, reddish yellow clayey soil, yellow clayey soil, granitic sandy soil and purple clayey soil. The physical and chemical properties of soil Cu, Zn, Ni, pH, particle classification composition, organic matter and free iron oxide were detected and analyzed, with a focus on the contents and distribution characteristics of Cu, Zn and Ni in paddy soil and their relationship. The results showed the average contents of total copper and zinc in each layer of the section decreased with the depth of the section. The total copper contents of the soil were 26.82, 21.54, 18.54 mg/kg, the total zinc contents were 75.84, 66.00, 63.19 mg/kg, and the total nickel contents were 18.40, 17.50, 18.23 mg/kg, respectively. The average contents of effective elements in soil decreased sequentially over the depth of the profile. The average contents of cultivated layer, the bottom layer and bottom soil layer were 4.04, 2.99, 1.29 mg/kg of effective copper, 4.77, 2.76, 1.14 mg/kg of effective nickel, 0.54, 0.44, 0.23 mg/kg of effective nickel. The content of soil elements was higher in yellow clayey soil and lower in granitic sandy soil. The content of soil organic matter was the main soil factor to determine the available contents of Cu, Zn, Ni in soil. The content of free iron oxide in soil was the main soil factor that determined the contents of total Cu and total Ni in soil. There was no significant correlation between total Zn content and soil pH value, particle composition, organic matter and free iron oxide content. In overview, the Cu and Zn contents of paddy soil at 0-25 cm and the sections of paddy soil in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area were higher than the critical values(Cu 1.5 mg/kg, Zn 0.5 mg/kg), which could meet the demand of shallow or middle root crops for copper and zinc.