Soil contamination by heavy metal, especially Pb, Zn and Cd from smelting activity has become an increasing concerned issue in Guizhou Province, China. Research is needed to examine the potential impact on food-chain. In this study, four abandoned Zn smelting sites with different smelting histories were investigated; metal concentrations in soil and herb samples were analyzed using AAS after microwave digestion. On average, TEA+DTPA+CaCl₂ extractable Pb, Zn and Cd in the soils were averaged 561, 332 and 5.63 mg kg^-1, respectively, which were 19.2, 3.95 and 56.3 times higher than their background levels. High Zn contents were found in Sambucus Chinensis, with similar levels in their stems and roots. Ixeris gracilis also highly accumulated metal Zn, with highest Zn in the leaves. Buddlej daxidii Franch.ex.sinarum Imp normally accumulated Zn in their stems, Senecio scandens were the same. Similar behavior was noticed with Pb. Of the four herbal plants, Cd was accumulated in the order of Ixeris gracilis > Sambucus Chinensis > Senecio scandens > Buddlej daxidii Franch.ex.sinarum Imp. Comparatively, metals were accumulated in the four herbs as the order of Zn>Pb>Cd. However, the average Stem/Root ratios of metals were 0.6, 1.2 and 1.3 for Pb, Zn and Cd, respectively, indicating significant translocation of Cd and Zn in the herbs. The ability of metal translocation in the four plants was in the order of Ixeris gracilis>Sambucus Chinensis>Senecio scandens>Buddlej daxidii Franch.ex.sinarum Imp. In conclusion, soil contamination from smelting activity increase Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations in plants and the increase varies with the degree of soil contamination or the history of smelting activity. This study was funded by "Western Light" of CAS and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40473049)