Photonic　crystals　with　highly　ordered　structure　have　presented　a　prospective　application　in　the　design　of　photocatalysts.　Herein,　we　fabricated　visible-light　active　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　via　a　modified　sandwich　infiltration　method.　By　using　the　acetylacetone-complexed　metal　ion　precursors,　pure　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　with　highly　ordered　structure　could　be　obtained　at　a　calcination　temperature　of　400　°C.　Benefited　from　the　facilitated　mass　transport　in　the　highly　ordered　structure,　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　exhibited　higher　photocatalytic　activity　towards　organic　pollutions　degradation　than　porous　β-Bi2O3　and　β-Bi2O3　nanocrystals.　Furthermore,　the　photonic　band　gap　of　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　could　be　modulated　to　overlap　its　electronic　band　gap　by　changing　the　macropore　diameter　into　220 nm.　Slow　photon　effect　could　be　observed　over　the　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　with　a　pore　diameter　of　220 nm,　which　enhanced　the　electronic　band　gap　absorption　and　further　improved　the　corresponding　photocatalytic　activity.　The　enhanced　activity　stability　of　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　could　also　be　observed.　Based　on　the　detection　of　active　species,　the　degradation　mechanism　over　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　was　discussed.　The　fabrication　of　β-Bi2O3　photonic　crystals　in　this　study　provides　experimental　guidance　for　developing　photonic　crystals　with　enhanced　visible　light　absorption　and　photocatalytic　activities.　©　2017,　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC.