Root　nodule-like　LaPO4/CdS　hierarchical　heterostructures　were　constructed　via　in-situ　growth　of　LaPO4　microspheres　on　the　surface　of　CdS　nanorods　to　remarkably　enhance　CO2　reduction　under　visible　light.　The　self-assembly　strategy　allows　intimate　interfacial　contact　between　LaPO4　and　CdS,　greatly　facilitating　the　separation　and　transfer　of　photo-generated　charge,　which　lifetime　is　increased　from　18.6　ns　to　48.5　ns.　Benefiting　from　the　synergistic　effect　of　the　enhanced　CO2　adsorption　and　promoted　visible　light　absorption,　the　optimized　LaPO4/CdS　photocatalyst　shows　excellent　CO2　reduction　performance　with　CO　generation　rate　of　960　μmol⋅h−1⋅g−1,　which　is　3.9　times　greater　than　the　pure　CdS　nanorods.　Moreover,　considerable　stability　can　be　observed　in　LaPO4/CdS　heterostructure　photocatalysts.　The　current　work　provides　a　simple　self-assembly　approach　to　build　3D-1D　semiconductor　composites　for　artificial　photosynthesis.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.