Fluorescence　(FL)　and　photoacoustic　(PA)　imaging　in　the　second　near　infrared　window　(NIR-II　FL　and　NIR-II　PA)　hold　great　promise　for　biomedical　applications　because　of　their　non-invasive　nature　and　excellent　spatial　resolution　properties.　Methods:　We　develop　a　NIR-II　PA　and　NIR-II　FL　dual-mode　imaging　gold　nanorod　vesicles　(AuNR　Ves)　by　self-assembly　of　amphiphilic　AuNR　coated　with　light　responsive　polyprodrug　of　Ru-complex　and　PEG,　and　NIR-II　cyanine　dye　(IR　1061).　The　AuNR　Ves　showed　strong　ligh　absorption　property　and　PA　imaging　performance　in　the　NIR-II　windows.　Moreover,　the　NIR-II　fluorescence　signal　of　IR　1061　loaded　in　the　AuNR　Ve　is　quenched.　Results:　The　AuNR　Ves　can　release　photosensitizer　Ru-complex　and　IR　1061　sequentially　triggered　by　NIR　light　irradiation,　leading　to　a　corresponding　NIR-II　PA　signal　decrease　and　NIR-II　FL　signal　recovery.　Meanwhile,　Ru-complex　can　not　only　serve　as　a　chemotherapeutic　drug　but　also　generate　singlet　oxygen　(1O2)　under　NIR　light　irradiation.　The　release　of　Ru-complex　and　photodynamic　therapy　are　guided　by　the　responsive　variation　of　NIR-II　PA　and　NIR-II　FL　signals.　Conclusions:　The　AuNR　Ve　possessing　not　only　precisely　control　1O2/drug　release　but　also　the　intrinsic　ability　to　monitor　therapy　process　offers　a　new　strategy　for　the　development　of　smart　theranostic　nanoplatform.　©　The　author(s).　This　is　an　open　access　article　distributed　under　the　terms　of　the　Creative　Commons　Attribution　License　(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).　See　http://ivyspring.com/terms　for　full　terms　and　conditions.