Photocatalytic　water　splitting　necessitates　robust　cocatalysts　to　accelerate　the　oxygen　evolution　reaction　(OER).　However,　most　OER　cocatalysts　are　based　on　noble　metal　oxides.　Besides,　the　loose　interface　between　semiconductor　and　cocatalyst　results　in　inefficient　charge　transfer.　The　fabrication　of　photocatalysts　with　integrated　light-harvesting　and　catalytic　centers　for　OER　is　therefore　desired.　Herein,　we　provide　a　photocarving　strategy　to　create　nitrogen　vacancies　(NVs)　on　polymeric　carbon　nitride　(PCN).　It　is　confirmed　that　the　embedded　NVs　can　function　as　active　sites　to　catalyze　OER,　while　promoting　the　transfer　of　the　photogenerated　charge　for　OER.　As　a　result,　PCN-NVs　without　any　extra　noble-metal　cocatalyst　assistance　exhibit　an　enhanced　oxygen　evolution　rate　compared　with　the　pristine　PCN.　Additionally,　the　PCN　obtained　from　other　precursors　can　also　be　engineered　by　this　photocarving　method,　while　promoting　oxygen　photosynthesis.　This　work　provides　an　avenue　to　design　light-transducers　with　combined　light-harvesting　and　catalytic　configurations　for　oxygen　synthesis　chemistry.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.