Red　(Ho3+:　5F5　→　5I　8),　green　(Ho3+:　5S　2,　5F4　→　5I8),　and　blue　(Tm　3+:　1D2　→　3F4　and　1G4　→　3H6)　upconversion　emissions　were　simultaneously　generated　in　the　transparent　glass　ceramics　containing　Nd3+　/　Yb3+　/　Tm3+　/　Ho　3+:β　-YF3　nanocrystals　under　796　nm　excitation.　It　was　experimentally　evidenced　that　Yb3+　ions　acted　as　the　bridging　centers　to　prompt　energy　transfer　from　Nd3+　to　Tm3+　and　Ho　3+.　With　appropriately　optimizing　the　contents　and　relative　ratios　of　the　doped　rare　earth　species,　luminescence　of　various　colors,　including　bright　white　light,　was　easily　tuned　in　the　glass　ceramics.　The　related　upconversion　mechanisms　were　proposed.　©　2010　American　Institute　of　Physics.