Cadmium　tungstate　(CdWO4)　nanorods　were　synthesized　from　cadmium　nitrate　and　sodium　tungstate,　via　a　hydrothermal　method　with　the　presence　of　sodium　dodecyl　benzenesulfonate　(SDBS),　The　morphology　and　properties　of　the　synthesized　products　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　field　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　fluorescence　light　spectrum　examination.　Possible　mechanism　of　fabricating　CdWO4　nanorods　was　investigated.　When　the　concentration　of　SDBS　is　0.002　mol/L,　the　synthesized　product　is　short　columnar-shaped　CdWO4　particles.　Their　aspect　ratio　increases　with　the　increase　of　the　concentration　of　SDBS.　When　the　concentration　of　SDBS　is　0.2　mol/L,　the　synthesized　product　is　CdWO4　nanorods　with　long　columnar　in　shape　and　its　aspect　ratio　is　20-25.　The　short　columnar-shaped　CdWO4　and　long　columnar-shaped　CdWO4　nanorods　all　display　a　very　broad　photoluminescent　(PL)　peak　at　490　nm　with　the　excitation　wavelength　of　300　nm,　and　the　photoluminescent　intensity　of　CdWO4　nanorods　increases　as　aspect　ratio　increases.