Potential　toxic　metal　(PTM)　is　hazardous　to　human　health,　but　the　mechanism　of　spatial　heterogeneity　of　PTM　at　a　macro-scale　remains　unclear.　This　study　conducts　a　meta-analysis　on　the　data　of　PTM　concentrations　in　the　soil　of　164　major　cities　in　China　from　2006　to　2021.　It　utilizes　spatial　analysis　methods　and　geodetector　to　investigate　the　spatial　distribution　characteristics　of　PTMs.　The　geographic　information　systems　(GIS)　and　geodetector　were　used　to　investigate　the　spatial　distribution　characteristics　of　PTMs,　assess　the　influence　of　natural　factors　(NFs)　and　anthropogenic　factors　(AFs)　on　the　spatial　heterogeneity　of　PTMs　in　urban　soils,　and　identified　the　potential　pollution　areas　of　PTMs.　The　results　indicated　that　the　pollution　levels　of　PTMs　in　urban　soils　varied　significantly　across　China,　with　higher　pollution　levels　in　the　south　than　in　the　north.　Cd　and　Hg　were　the　most　severely　contaminated　elements.　The　geodetector　analysis　showed　that　temperature　and　precipitation　in　NFs　and　land　use　type　in　AFs　were　considered　as　the　main　influencing　factors,　and　that　both　AF　and　NF　together　led　to　the　PTM　variation.　All　these　factors　showed　a　mutually　enhancing　pattern　which　has　important　implications　for　urban　soil　management.　PTM　high-risk　areas　were　identified　to　provide　early　warning　of　pollution　risk　under　the　condition　of　climate　change.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　B.V.　2024.