Abstract: In this paper, the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of reactive iron oxides (FeR) and reactive Fe-bound organic carbon (Fe-OC) in surface sediments near the Yangtze River Estuary in four seasons from July 2022 to April 2023 were analyzed. The binding mode of FeR and OC in sediments near the Yangtze River Estuary and the preservation effect of FeR on OC were explored, and the effects of sedimentary physical and chemical properties on the interaction between FeR and OC were discussed. The results showed that the content of Fe-OC in the sediments near the Yangtze Estuary was the highest in summer, followed by winter, autumn and spring. In terms of regional changes, the content of Fe-OC in the sediments of the north branch is the highest, followed by the offshore and the north of the north channel, and the lowest in the north channel of the south branch. This spatial and temporal variation was related to the difference of hydrodynamics, sediment grain size and FeR content. The analysis of the influence of sedimentary physical and chemical properties on the interaction between FeR and OC showed that the content of Fe-OC is higher in the area with high proportion of sediment clay. The content of total organic carbon (TOC) has little effect on Fe-OC. The change of pH value and the content of inorganic phosphorus in sediments will also affect distribution levels of FeR and Fe-OC. Compared with other areas, the proportion of Fe-OC to TOC(f_Fe-OC) in the sediments near the Yangtze River Estuary was 25.97%, indicating that FeR in the sediments near the Yangtze River Estuary had a strong preservation effect on OC. The mean value of OC∶Fe (molar ratio) was 1.80, indicating that co-precipitation was the main binding mechanism of FeR and OC in sediments near the Yangtze Estuary.