Non-noble　metal　Cd　nanoparticles,　as　an　efficient　cocatalyst,　are　successfully　constructed　onto　the　surface　of　hexagonal　CdS　nanorods　(CdS　NRs)　for　the　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution　reaction　by　a　facile　in　situ　chemical　reduction　approach　based　on　a　thermal　treatment　process.　The　in　situ　introduction　of　Cd　can　significantly　improve　the　photocatalytic　H2　production　performance　of　CdS　NRs　in　sodium　sulfide　and　sodium　sulfite　aqueous　solutions　under　visible　light　irradiation.　The　superior　electrical　conductivity　of　metallic　Cd　and　the　intimate　interfacial　contact　between　Cd　and　CdS　NRs　are　suggested　to　account　for　the　enhanced　light　absorption　intensity,　more　efficient　charge　separation,　and　faster　interfacial　charge　migration,　resulting　in　the　dramatically　promoted　photocatalytic　H2　production　activity.　This　work　provides　a　new　route　for　the　in　situ　deposition　of　Cd　nanoparticles　onto　CdS　and　other　Cd-containing　semiconductor　photocatalysts　with　desired　morphologies.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.