Rod-shaped　PbWO4　microcrystals　of　length　＞1　μm　were　fabricated　by　a　hydrothermal　route　and　subsequent　calcination.　Pt　nanoparticles　(NPs)　of　different　contents　(0.5　wt%,　1　wt%　and　2　wt%)　were　subsequently　deposited　on　the　PbWO4　microcrystals,　producing　robust　Pt/PbWO4　composite　microcrystals.　The　PbWO4　microcrystals　and　Pt/PbWO4　photocatalysts　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　N2　sorption　measurements,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　and　X-ray　photoelectron,　photoluminescence,　Fourier-transform　infrared,　and　ultraviolet-visible　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopies.　The　photocatalytic　performances　of　the　catalysts　were　evaluated　by　the　consecutive　photocatalytic　degradation　of　acid　orange　II　dye.　The　Pt/PbWO4　composite　microcrystals　exhibited　high　photocatalytic　activity　and　stability.　The　deposition　of　Pt　NPs　produced　surface　plasmon　resonance　(SPR),　which　induced　a　large　visible　light　absorption.　A　Pt　NP　content　of　1-2　wt%　resulted　in　an　∼2　times　increase　in　photocatalytic　activity,　compared　with　the　activity　of　Pt/PbWO4.　The　crystal　structure　and　high　crystallinity　of　PbWO4　resulted　in　its　favorable　photocatalytic　property,　and　the　SPR　effect　of　the　Pt　NPs　promoted　visible　light　harvesting.　The　Pt　NPs　also　enhanced　the　separation　of　photo-generated　electrons　and　holes,　which　further　promoted　the　photocatalytic　reaction.　©　2015　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.