Objective: To investigate the relationship between lymph node metastasis (LNM) and clinicopathological features in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC), and to explore the risk factors of LNM in SESCC. Methods: A total of 215 SESCC patients who underwent curative esophagectomy and lymphadenectomy in Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command from January 2013 to June 2017, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological features of patients’ gender, age, tumor location, tumor size, macroscopic type, differentiation degree, depth of tumor invasion and lymphovascular invasion were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the relationship between LNM and the clinicopathological features in SESCC. Logistic regression analysis was taken to analyze the independent risk factors of LNM in SESCC. Results: Among 215 patients with SESCC, 21 patients had LNM, the metastasis rate was 9.8%. Univariate analysis showed that the tumor size, depth of invasion, differentiation degree, and lymphovascular invasion were correlated with LNM in SESCC (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the tumor size, tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymphovascular invasion were all independent risk factors for LNM in SESCC (OR were 5.632, 5.570, 5.401, 4.316 respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusion: The tumor size, tumor differentiation, depth of invasion and lymphovascular invasion are closely correlated with LNM in SESCC. The risk of LNM in SESCC must be fully assessed to choose the optimal treatment.