Biological　photosynthesis　via　chloroplasts　(CHs)　is　widely　recognized　as　the　most　appropriate　and　effective　method　to　convert　solar　energy　and　simultaneously　supply　nutrition　to　maintain　life　on　earth.　It　is　of　great　significance　to　prepare　CH-based　biohybrids　which　not　only　can　artificially　simulate　the　photocatalytic　functionality　of　CH-containing　plants　and　bacteria,　but　also　can　be　easily　prepared,　stored　for　a　long　period　and　conveniently　utilized　when　needed.　In　this　work,　for　the　first　time,　CHs　were　encapsulated　into　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs),　namely　zeolitic　imidazolate　frameworks　(ZIF-8),　under　very　gentle　reaction　conditions,　i.e.　in　aqueous　solution　and　at　room　temperature.　Without　the　negative　effects　of　organic　solvents　and　high　temperature　on　synthesis,　the　obtained　CH@ZIF-8　biohybrids　not　only　have　shells　maintaining　the　porous　structure　of　ZIF-8,　but　also　well　preserve　the　biological　activity　of　CHs　inside.　The　porous　ZIF-8　coating　on　CHs　acts　as　a　＂cell　wall＂to　allow　mass　and　energy　exchange　between　CHs　and　the　environment,　and　protect　CHs　from　microbiological　degradation,　which　significantly　prolong　the　lifetime　of　CHs　in　vitro　(raised　from　several　days　to　＞300　days).　The　CH@ZIF-8　biohybrids　may　have　promising　applications　in　＂living＂artificial　leaves　and　even　artificial　trees　capable　of　photosynthesis　in　the　future.　©　2020　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.