Direct and In situ measurement of natural terrestrial external exposure levels of nuclides from soils in Chengdu was taken using the IED22000A,a portable microcomputer multi -channel spectrometer. It was estimated that the specific activity of radio nuclides ^238 U, 232Th and ^40K was between 10.37 - 77. 19 Bq · kg^-1 ,17.85- 225.74 Bq · kg^-1 and 284.83 -892.67 Bq · kg^-1 ; the external hazard index was between0.16 -0.8. The average air absorbed dose rate measured 1 m above ground, was 83. 23 nGy · h^-1. Yhe annual effective dose in γ external exposure was between 0.34 -0.70mS. The radium equivalent activity was between 59.06 -386, 45 Bq · kg^ - 1, and its averaged value was 164.15 Bq · kg^ - 1. The indicators were in the permissible range. The levels of external exposure in Chengdu stayed in safety range and had no adverse impact on people＇s living environment.