The contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg) in Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem were determined by microwave digestion method and atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples were prepared by microwave digestion method. Then the contents of Pb and Cd in Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The contents of As in Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem were determined by Hydride atomic absorption method and the contents of Hg in Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem were determined by Cold vapor atomic absorption method. The linear relationship of the methods was good, the correlation coefficient r > 0.995| The detection limit of Pb, Cd, As and Hg were 0.041 μg/L, 0.0048 μg/L, 0.033 μg/L and 0.021 μg/L, respectively| The precision test results were 1.9%, 2.2%, 2.8% and 3.2%, respectively| The average recoveries were 98.5%, 99.0%, 99.4% and 96.4%, respectively. The contents of four heavy metals in Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem from different habitats were different, the Pb content of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem from Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province was higher than that of others, the Hg content of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem from Shenyang city, Liaoning Province was higher than that of others. The method proved to be suitable for determination of heavy metals in Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. It provided reference for the heavy metal limit quality standard of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem.