Abstract: Surface water samples were collected from 22 sampling sites in the main tributaries of Chishui river basin for dissolved trace elements analysis (Al, Fe, Sr, Mn, Cd, Li, and As). The spatial variations and source identification were determined using various multivariate statistical techniques, including correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). The results showed that the median concentrations of these elements were in the order of Sr>Fe>Al>Li>As>Cr>Cd>Mn. And the median concentrations of trace elements in study area were match well with the background values of Yangtze River, without significant trace elements pollution in Chishui River. Compared with other trace elements, the relatively high concentrations could be observed on Sr with a median concentration of 540.2 ug/L. Spatial structure analysis showed the high content of trace elements were mainly in the upper and middle reaches of Chishui River basin. The results of factor analysis illustrated that As and Li were mainly from domestic sewage. Mn and Cd were attributed to the cultivation. The source of Al, Cr, Sr and Fe were associated with the rock weathering and domestic sewage. Based on the clustering analysis, four spatial regions were identified: C1 (lower reaches of Chishui River Basin), C2 (middle and upper reaches of Chishui River Basin), C3 (Chishui Heyuan River Basin and Weihe River Basin), C4 (Yanjin River Basin), The trace element concentration of four regions followed by C4>C2>C3>C1. The highest concentrations of Sr, Fe, As and Li occurred in C4; while Mn and Cd in C3, Al and Cr in C2.