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As the staple food for Asian countries and with its ability in arsenic accumulation, rice consumption becomes a dominant pathway for As exposure to humans. Here, we collected 108 rice samples from local markets and online sources in 13 major rice-producing regions in China, and determined As contents, speciation and bioaccessibility in the samples. Total As contents were 25–327 μg kg−1 (averaging 120), showing regional differences, with Hunan province being greater than other provinces at 180 vs 110. In rice grains, inorganic As was the dominant species, being 39.9–88.5 (61.1 %), but all being within the Chinese standard at 200 μg kg−1. Based on the modified physiologically-based extraction test (MPEBT), arsenic bioaccessibility in rice samples was 20.1–82.2 (52.3 %) in the gastric phase and 47.2–113 (81.2 %) in the intestinal phase. Strong positive correlation between total As and bioaccessible As suggested bioaccessible As was content-dependent. Based on the intestinal phase, the rice samples from northern region had lower As bioaccessibility than other regions (59.2 vs 83.2 %), and Japonica variety had lower As bioaccessibility than Indica variety (71.1 vs 83.1 %). This study suggests that rice from markets in China is safe, with their As contents and bioaccessibility showing regional and variety differences. [Display omitted] • 108 rice samples were collected in 13 major rice-producing provinces; • Total As in rice grains was 25–327 μg kg−1, with Hunan being greater; • Inorganic As was the dominant species in rice grains at 39.9–88.5 %; • Bioaccessible As was content-dependent based on modified PBET method; • As bioaccessibility was lower in rice from northern region and Japonica variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]