The　well-defined　one-dimensional　(1D)　CdS@MoS2　(CM)　core-shell　nanowires　are　constructed　by　employing　CdS　nanowires　(CdS　NWs)　as　nanobuilding　blocks　via　a　facile　hydrothermal　strategy.　The　synergistic　interaction,　stemming　from　the　large　and　intimate　coaxial　interfacial　contact　between　MoS2　thin　shell　and　1D　CdS　core,　can　efficiently　retard　the　charge　carrier　recombination　and　the　MoS2　as　noble-metal-free　cocatalyst　enriches　the　active　sites　for　H2　evolution　from　water.　Consequently,　in　comparison　to　bare　CdS　nanowires,　the　resultant　1D　core-shell　CM　composite　exhibits　distinctly　enhanced　visible　light　activity　for　the　evolution　of　H2.　Notably,　the　activity　of　1D　CM　with　the　optimized　2 wt%　of　MoS2　exceeds　that　of　pure　CdS　and　CdS–1 wt%　Pt　composite　by　a　factor　of　64　and　4　times,　respectively,　under　identical　reaction　conditions,　while　the　apparent　quantum　yield　(A.Q.Y.)　at　420 nm　over　1D　CM　reaches　28.5%.　This　work　provides　a　simple　paradigm　for　facile　and　finely　controlled　synthesis　of　well-shaped　1D-based　composite　photocatalysts　towards　boosted　solar　energy　conversion.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.