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The contents and sources of 15 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in 59 surface soil samples (0-10 cm depth) collected from six functional zones, including cultural and educational area, park, residential area, vegetable garden, gas station, and industrial area, in Yangzhou City. The toxicity equivalent content of benzo[a]pyrene (TEQ BaP ) was adopted to assess PAH risks in soils. The results showed that the contents of Σ15PAHs in soil samples ranged from 21 to 36118 μg·kg -1 , with a median value of 295 μg·kg -1 . The composition of PAHs was dominated by 4-6 ring PAHs. The average contents of Σ15PAHs in various functional zones in Yangzhou City was in the order of industrial area > gas station > cultural and educational area > vegetable garden > residential area > park. Correlation analysis showed that the contents of Σ15PAHs were significantly positively correlated with the contents of both TOC ( P <0.05) and BC ( P <0.01) in soil samples from whole Yangzhou City. However, the contents of Σ15PAHs had no significant correlations with the contents of both TOC and BC in soil samples within each functional zone except gas station, in which the contents of Σ15PAHs had a significant correlation with those of BC ( P <0.01). The results of PAH ratios showed that the sources of PAHs in soils of various functional zones were mainly from oil leakage and the combustion of oil, coal, and biomass, although there were some differences among them. The values of ΣTEQ BaP of 15 PAHs ranged from 2 to 4448 μg·kg -1 in the soil samples of Yangzhou City. According to the standard value of 33 μg·kg -1 of ΣTEQ BaP for 10 PAHs in the soil environmental standard of Netherland, 45.8% of soil samples exceeded the standard in Yangzhou City. The percentages of soil samples exceeding the standard of various functional zones in Yangzhou City were in the order of industrial area (70%) > gas station (60%) > cultural and educational area (55.6%) > vegetable garden (50.0%) > residential area (30%) > park (10%). Hence, in all the functional zones of Yangzhou City, there were some soil samples with potential ecological risks, which was relatively higher in industrial area and gas station, and relatively lower in residential area and park.