Objective: To investigate the relationship between high sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP) and metabolic syndrome in a general population. Methods: We randomly selected 609 subjects aged 18-74 years stratified by gender and age in Songqiao,a rural area of Jiangsu Province. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on medical history,smoking,alcohol intake and use of medications. Blood pressure was measured by mercury sphygmomanometer. Serum hsCRP concentration was measured using a high sensitivity BNprosec immunonephelometric assay. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the criterions of IDF (2004). Results: With increasing number of the metabolic syndrome components,serum hsCRP concentration of both genders was increased significantly (for men,adjusted P = 0.043;for women,adjusted P = 0.003). Logistic regression indicated that prevalence of metabolic syndrome was in proportion to increasing hsCRP levels(for total subjects,adjusted P < 0.01;for men,adjusted P = 0.002;for women,adjusted P = 0.001). In further partial correlation analysis,waist and serum triglycerides were found to be associated with hsCRP in total subjects and both genders,while systolic blood pressure and serum HDL cholesterol were related to hsCRP only in men. Conclusion: hsCRP was independently associated with both prevalence and individual components of metabolic syndrome in this study population.