In　comparison　to　conventional　spectroscopic　techniques　based　on　chromatography,　surface-enhanced　Raman　spectroscopy　(SERS)　enables　the　rapid　identification　and　detection　of　trace　pesticide　residues　present　in　trace　amounts　in　the　environment　and　foods.　Herein,　a　facile　approach　to　fabricate　unique　gold　nanochestnuts　(GNCs)　as　an　ultra-sensitive　SERS　substrate　for　detecting　trace　pesticide　residues　has　been　developed　based　on　anodic　aluminum　oxide　(AAO)　templates.　The　GNCs　are　synthesized　through　the　galvanic　replacement　of　Ag　on　the　top　of　Ni　nanorod　arrays.　The　as-prepared　GNCs　have　well-controlled　structural　parameters,　and　importantly　have　unique　anisotropic　morphologies　that　benefit　the　enhancement　in　SERS　performance.　As　a　result,　rhodamine　6　G　(R6G)　can　be　efficiently　detected　with　GNCs　as　the　SERS　substrate　even　with　a　concentration　of　only　10(-12)　M,　and　the　Raman　enhancement　factor　reaches　up　to　5.4　x　10(9)　at　this　concentration.　Further　SERS　measurement　of　thiram　indicates　a　remarkable　SERS-active　sensitivity　of　the　as-prepared　GNCs　with　a　detection　limit　of　thiram　up　to　10(-14　)M.　The　GNCs　also　exhibit　a　high　signal-to-noise　ratio.