A　highly　ordered　ZnO/TiO2　photonic　crystal　(ZnO/TiO2-PC)　was　obtained　by　a　simply　pyrolysis　strategy.　Combined　with　a　series　of　characterizations,　including　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　transmittance　spectra,　it　was　found　that　the　in　situ　formed　ZnO　phases　were　uniformly　grafted　to　TiO2-PC　framework　forming　hybrid　nanostructure.　Additionally,　the　formation　of　heterojunction　between　ZnO　and　TiO2-PC　enhanced　the　separation　efficiency　of　photogenerated　electron-hole　pairs,　which　significantly　improved　the　photocatalytic　performances.　Based　on　the　results　of　photoelectrochemical　measurement　and　the　detection　of　active　species　in　photocatalytic　degradation　process,　the　photocatalytic　degradation　mechanism　of　ZnO/TiO2-PC　nanocomposite　was　proposed.　It　is　hoped　that　our　work　could　provide　a　good　insight　into　the　preparation　of　photonic　crystal　heterostructures　for　the　environmental　purification.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.