Objective To investigate the degree of pain for patients with esophageal cancer undergoing surgery, evaluate the influence of pain on life quality, and provide evidence for therapy and nursing. Methods The SF-MPQ and BPI were used to measure the quality and intensity of the pain, and the influence on the life quality. Results Non-manual workers feeled more pain than the manual workers; the degree of the patients' education background positively correlated with PRI emotional score;postoperative pain did not correlated with ages and gender. The more pain, the worse influence on life quality. The pain affected the daily life, emotions, locomotor ability, sleep and enjoyment of life significantly. Conclusions There still existed serious pain in patients with esophageal cancer underwent surgery,and the pain affects the quality of life and postoperative treatment. Nurses should pay close attention to pain management, adopt more accurate evaluation so as to guide the pain control and improve the life quality.