One-dimensional　(1D)　CdS　nanowires　(NWs)-CeO2　nanoparticles　(NPs)　composites　have　been　synthesized　and　used　for　photocatalytic　selective　reduction　of　nitroaromatics　and　water　splitting　to　hydrogen　under　visible　light　irradiation.　The　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　of　CdS　NWs-CeO2　NPs　composites　is　ascribed　to　the　intimate　interfacial　contact　and　the　matched　energy　band　structures　between　CdS　NWs　and　CeO2　NPs,　which　thereby　improves　the　separation　and　transfer　of　photogenerated　charge　carriers.　The　recycling　activity　test　shows　that　the　CdS　NWs-CeO2　NPs　composite　also　exhibits　good　photostability　under　controlled　reaction　conditions.　It　is　hoped　that　this　work　would　provide　a　facile　method　to　fabricate　1D　semiconductor-metal　oxide　composites　with　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　toward　selective　organic　transformations,　water　splitting　and　other　target　redox　processes　under　ambient　conditions.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　and　the　Centre　National　de　la　Recherche　Scientifique　2015.