The　design　and　optimization　of　semiconductor-metal/metal　cluster　heterostructures　are　highly　desirable　for　efficient　photocatalytic　redox　reactions.　Herein,　Ag-tipped　ZnO　nanorod　arrays　decorated　with　glutathione-protected　Au　clusters　(ZnO-Ag-Au　NRAs)　have　been　successfully　prepared　via　photodeposition　method　and　electrostatic　self-assembly　method,　in　which　Ag　nanoparticles　are　demonstrated　to　act　as　an　electron　mediator　and　Au　clusters　serve　as　a　visible　light　photosensitizer　to　generate　additional　charge　carriers　in　the　composite　photocatalyst.　With　selective　tip　growth　of　metallic　Ag　and　surface　decoration　of　Au　clusters　on　ZnO　NRAs,　the　as-obtained　ZnO-Ag-Au　NRAs　operate　to　boost　the　charge　separation　and　transfer,　thereby　showing　the　enhanced　photocatalytic　reduction　of　aqueous　heavy　metal　ions.　This　work　affords　a　feasible　paradigm　for　the　fine　construction　of　tipped　one-dimensional-based　hybrid　photocatalysts　with　enhanced　activity　toward　the　elimination　of　heavy　metal　pollutants　from　aqueous　solutions.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.