Cassava is one of the most important crops in tropical regions, its tuber is organically rich in starch and carbohydrates. Driven by the action of “taking tubers as staple food” advocated by the Ministry of Agriculture, the cassava has being an enormous potential staple food in China. Thus its security in planting process should be concerned synchronously. However, the accumulation of heavy metal is a key factor of cassava safety. The aim of this study was to investigate heavy metal (chromium, nickel, lead and zinc) in cassava planting areas in typical tropical areas of China, Hainan province, and its accumulation in different part of cassava, The range of heavy metal concentrations in planting areas were 29.17-2032.5 mg kg^-1 for Cr, 7.79-594.9 mg kg^-1 for Ni, 5.25-116.88mg kg^-1 for Pb, and 16.95-214.02 mg kg^-1 for Zn. 18.9%, 13.5%, 2.7%, 2.7% sites for Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively, exceeded the risk screening value of agricultural land. The order of bioconcentration factor in root of cassava for four heavy metals was Cr > Zn > Ni > Pb. The correlation analysis indicated the soil pH value had significant negative impact on heavy metal accumulation in cassava. These findings suggested the high Cr concentration in planting areas and the low soil pH value should be avoided when planting the cassava in this typical tropical areas of China.