Panax notoginseng is a valued traditional Chinese medical herb. In this study, the arsenic (As) contamination of soil in P. notoginseng plantation area in Wenshan (Yunnan, China) was investigated; the absorption and accumulation of soil As by the P. notoginseng was revealed; and the associated health risk was evaluated. The results revealed that the soil As concentrations ranged between 6.9-242.0 mg x kg(-1). Arsenic concentrations in 48% of the total soil samples were > 40 mg x kg(-1). The As concentrations in 24% of main root samples, 81% of fibrous root samples, 14% of stem samples, 57% of leaf samples, and 44% of flower/fruit samples were greater than the regulation concentration of 2.0 mg x kg(-1). Arsenic accumulation in the main root increased with the soil As concentration at soil As concentrations < 100 mg x kg(-1), but sharply decreased with the soil As concentration at soil As concentrations > 100 mg x kg(-1). With increasing soil As concentration, the total biomass of P. notoginseng and the main root biomass decreased. Calculating with the As concentration in different parts of Sanqi P. notoginseng plants, percent of the average ingestion rates of As with ADI regulated by FAO/WHO showed fibrous root > leave > flower/fruit > main root > stem. Based on the As concentration in the main root, the daily As intake accounted for a mean fraction of 12.83% (maximum 45.87%) of the acceptable daily intake specified by FAO/WHO,and the ratio increased with the increasing of soil As concentration. Arsenic contamination of soil and P. notoginseng at the plantation area of Wenshan should not be neglected, and effective strategies should be adopt to reduce As accumulation in the plant and human health risk.