Incorporating　different　materials,　such　as　metal　sulfides,　with　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　to　develop　MOF-based　multifunctional　composites　with　enhanced　performance　is　an　important　area　of　research.　However,　the　intrinsically　high　interfacial　energy　barrier　significantly　restricts　the　heterogeneous　nucleation　and　nanoassembly　of　metal　sulfides　onto　MOFs　during　the　wet　chemistry　synthesis　process.　Herein,　taking　advantage　of　the　natural　tailorability　of　MOFs,　the　precise　and　controllable　growth　of　metal　sulfide　nanoparticles　(NPs)　(CdS,　ZnS,　CuS　and　Ag2S)　at　the　coordinatively　unsaturated　metal　sites　(CUSs)　of　MOFs　to　form　MOF@metal　sulfide　composites　under　mild　conditions　is　achieved　via　a　cysteamine-assisted　coordination-driven　route.　During　the　process,　the　molecular　linker　of　cysteamine,　possessing　one　amino　group　for　chelating　with　the　CUSs　of　the　MOF　and　one　thiol　group　as　a　docking　site　to　anchor　metal　ions,　plays　a　prominent　role　in　enhancing　interfacial　interactions　between　the　MOF　and　metal　ions.　The　subsequent　S2-　anion　exchange　process　leads　to　intimate　surface-attached　nucleation　and　epitaxial　growth　of　metal　sulfide　NPs　on　the　surface　of　the　MOF.　The　as-formed　composites　exhibit　enhanced　charge　separation　and　transfer　capability,　and　thus　boost　photocatalytic　performance.　This　general　and　simple　approach　provides　a　new　avenue　for　the　design　of　MOF-metal　sulfide　hybrids.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.　2020.