This　study　investigates　the　relationship　between　the　spatial　distribution　patterns　of　heavy　metals　(HMs)　in　atmospheric　fine　particulate　matter　(PM2.5)　and　their　influencing　factors　in　China,　in　order　to　address　air　pollution　problems.　Using　HM　data　from　PM2.5　collected　from　88　Chinese　cities　between　2012　and　2020,　the　study　employed　a　combination　of　enrichment　factor　(EF)　analysis,　standard　deviation　ellipses　and　hot　spot　analysis　to　assess　spatial　distribution　patterns;　geographical　detectors　to　identify　influencing　factors;　and　hybrid　single-particle　Lagrangian　integrated　trajectory　models　(HYSPLIT)　to　determine　air　mass　movement.　The　results　reveal　that　the　spatial　distribution　of　PM2.5-bound　HMs　in　China　is　characterized　by　high　levels　in　the　north　and　interior　and　low　levels　in　the　south　and　along　the　coast.　Anthropogenic　activities　affect　HM　levels　in　China＇s　interior　more　strongly　than　on　the　coast.　Moreover,　the　distribution　of　PM2.5-bound　HMs　in　China　exhibits　a　northeast-southwest　spatial　pattern,　with　significantly　higher　levels　observed　in　central　and　northern　regions　than　in　eastern　regions,　particularly　along　the　coast.　Industrial　waste　emissions　and　energy　consumption　are　key　factors　contributing　to　high　PM2.5-bound　HMs.　In　central　China,　the　summer　air　mass　movement　predominantly　follows　a　southeast　direction,　while　in　winter,　it　follows　a　northwest　direction,　originating　from　inland.　In　contrast,　in　eastern　China,　summer　air　mass　movement　predominantly　follows　a　southeast　direction,　while　in　winter,　it　follows　a　northeast　direction,　originating　from　the　ocean.　Overall,　our　findings　suggest　that　HMs　in　PM2.5　display　high　clustering　values　in　central　China,　due　primarily　to　industrial　waste　emissions,　energy　consumption,　and　air　mass　movement.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd