Distributions of major elements, rare earth elements (REE) and heavy metals in the sediment core of the newly created wetlands of Yellow River Estuary were investigated and environmental significances of metal elements were discussed. The results showed that most metal elements had similar distribution patterns, which presented a low value zone at about 40 cm due to the numerous input of sediment from Yellow River. Grain size composition and organic matter content had significant influence on the distribution of metal elements. Specially, the distribution of Na,2,O was opposite to most other elements, reflecting the tidal erosion of the wetland. The concentration order of single REE in the sediment of Yellow River Estuary wetlands was consistent with the Yellow River sediment and Bohai sea sediment, but the total REE content was higher than the Yellow River sediment and lower than the Bohai sediment, indicating that the sediment in the Yellow River Estuary wetlands came from both Yellow River and Bohai Sea. The variation of (La/Yb),NASC,could reflect the change of material input. Besides, the heavy metals in the sediment of Yellow River Estuary wetlands enriched significantly under the influence of high contents of organic matter and clay particles.