To provide bases for paddy soil restoration polluted suddenly by acid rock drainage(ARD), a field investigation were carried out in a paddy soil polluted by ARD for about 1 year in Rongshui, Guangxi. The soil characteristics including acidification, fertility parameters, activity of dehydrogenase and the accumulation of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in the ARD-soil-plant systems were monitored, and the relationships among these properties were explored to find the pollution characteristics. The results showed that pH of ARD was 2 – 3, while Cu and Cd in ARD were even reached 8.53 and 13 times of the standard V class of national water standard. There was different Cu accumulation in the polluted soils, and the pollution in site 1 was most seriously, as Cu (64.0 mg/kg) in the soils were all exceeded the II class of national soil standard (50 mg/kg). While, the heavy metals absorbed by rice were mostly accumulated in roots, and the metals in grains were lower than the National Food &Health Standard. Varying degrees of acidification and degradation of soil function were also found in polluted soils. For example, pH and the net acid generation (NAG) in site 1 was 3.5 and H₂SO₄ 11.27 kg/t respectively, while dehydrogenase in the soil was as low as TBF 0.002 mg/kgsoil?24h.The contents of total Cu and available Cu were both significantly correlated to pH, NAG-pH, Fe and SO₄^2– in the soils (P<0.01). Moreover, the available Si and conductivity of the soils were both significantly correlated to Cu and Cd(P<0.01). These results might provide bases for the remediation of similar soils.