Uniform experiments were carried out in 11 counties, scattered in 7 provinces, major tobacco growing regions in South and North China, to investigate contents of Pb and Cd in tobacco plants in relation to environment. Results showed that the content of Pb was higher than that of Cd in roots, stems, leaves and flowers of the tobacco plants. The content of Pb in tobacco plants varied in the sequence: roots > leaves > stems ≈ shoots (flowers), while Cd followed the sequence of leaves > stems ≈ shoots (flowers) > roots. The contents of Pb and Cd in leaves showed a trend of lower leaves > middle leaves > upper leaves and decreased gradually with the growth of the plants, but their accumulations increased along an S curve and their accumulation rates appeared in a singlet curve. Moreover, the contents of Pb and Cd were higher in tobacco leaves produced in South China than in North China. The variation coefficients of Pb and Cd concentrations in tobacco leaves were high, indicating significant influence of the environment. In regards to Pb (Cd) in relation to meteorological factors, negative correlations were observed with sunshine hours and positive ones with rainfall (or relative humidity). Thus, it seems quite reasonable to suggest that the higher Pb and Cd contents in tobacco leaves produced in South China than in North China could be caused by less sunshine hours, rich precipitation and high relative humidity. Furthermore, the contents of Pb (Cd) in tobacco leaves were found positively related to soil factors, such as exchangeable Pb (Cd) and available phosphorus, and negatively to soil pH. Therefore, it is possible to decrease effectively Pb and Cd contents in tobacco leaves in cultivation by growing them in low Pb (Cd) soils, liming properly, avoiding application of high rates of organic matter and heavy-metals-containing phosphorus fertilizers.