We　report　on　the　facile　synthesis　of　g-C3N4　based　polymers　by　co-condensing　urea　with　glycine　for　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution.　The　as-prepared　photocatalysts　were　then　characterized　by　powder　X-ray　diffraction,　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy,　UV–Vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy,　photoluminescence　emission　spectrometry,　electron　paramagnetic　resonance　spectrometry　and　transmission　electron　microscopy.　Compared　with　pristine　g-C3N4,　obtained　from　direct　pyrolysis　of　urea,　the　CNU-G5　photocatalyst　showed　largely　enhanced　photocatalytic　H2　activities　about　75 μmol h−1,　which　is　5　times　higher　than　of　the　pristine　CNU.　The　enhanced　activities　are　ascribed　to　the　larger　specific　area　surface,　strengthened　optical　absorption　and　improved　electron　transport　ability.　Our　work　opens　up　a　new　pathway　for　the　synthesis　graphitic　carbon　nitride　photocatalysts　with　glycine　modification　to　enhance　photocatalytic　activities.　©　2017,　Springer　Science+Business　Media　B.V.