Increasing attention has been paid to heavy metal study in soil/sediment of the water fluctuating zone (WLFZ) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). The fate of heavy metals is significantly important to the water and ecological safety in the TGR region. The status quo of heavy metal study in soil/sediment of WLFZ in the TGR from 2001 to 2016 was critically reviewed based on the bibliometrical analysis according to the current publications in the database of CNKI and Web of Science. To date, in total of 81 papers, including 69 papers in Chinese and 12 papers in English, were published globally. 2011 had the most publications (15 papers) and the annual amount thereafter stayed no less than 5. The universities and institutes of Chongqing Municipality and Hubei Province were the major contributors to these publications. 19.75% of the papers were published in the journals related to environmental science while the topic of investigation and evaluation of heavy metal pollution contained the most publications (51.85%). Cadmium (Cd) showed the highest degree of contamination with the proportion of the readily movable form exceeding 38%. Therefore, Cd is the primary element for heavy metal pollution control. Fertilization was the major source of Cd in the agricultural WLFZ. Lead (Pb) and Mercury (Hg) in soil/sediment of WLFZ also showed a high contamination degree with the proportion of the readily movable form exceeding 22%. Traffic wastes were the major source for these two heavy metals. In addition, the industrial wastes that were discharged as point sources in the TGR region generally contributed to the accumulation of heavy metals, e.g., Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and As in the WLFZ. Heavy metals travelled mainly downward in the WLFZ while Cd, Cu and Zn were relatively easily absorbed by several plants in this area. The variations of pH, Eh, temperature and humic matter due to the impoundment of WLFZ exerted great effects on the interactions of heavy metals at soil/sediment-water interface. In the future, the influence of soil physiochemical and hydraulic property variations, the application of isotope tracing technology of typical heavy metals as well as the re-releasing characteristics of sediment associated heavy metals are suggested to be further considered in the WLFZ of TGR region.