Hollow　rods　of　NiGa2O4　were　successfully　prepared　via　a　facile　template-engaged　reaction　of　nickel　salt　and　commercially　available　rod-like　Ga2O3.　The　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(DRS),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　selected　area　electron　diffraction　(SAED),　and　energy　dispersive　X-ray　spectrum　(EDS).　The　results　showed　that　the　pH　value,　reaction　time,　and　hydrothermal　temperature　have　crucial　effects　on　the　formation　of　the　phase　and　microstructure　of　the　as-prepared　NiGa2O4.　The　growth　mechanism　of　the　NiGa2O4　hollow　rods　was　proposed.　This　facile　and　green　method　is　proved　to　be　a　generic　method　for　the　one-step　synthesis　of　hollow　rods　of　other　metal　gallates,　such　as　ZnGa2O4.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　RuO2-loaded　NiGa2O4　was　investigated　by　photocatalytic　water　splitting　for　hydrogen　production.