Zeolite　catalysts　have　found　extensive　applications　in　the　synthesis　of　various　fine　chemicals.　However,　the　micropores　of　zeolites　impose　diffusion　limitations　on　bulky　molecules,　greatly　reducing　the　catalytic　efficiency.　Herein,　we　explore　an　economic　and　environmentally　friendly　method　for　synthesizing　hierarchical　NaX　zeolite　that　exhibits　improved　catalytic　performance　in　the　Knoevenagel　condensation　reaction　for　producing　the　useful　fine　chemical　2-cyano-3-phenylacrylate.　The　synthesis　was　achieved　via　a　low-temperature　activation　of　kaolinite　and　subsequent　in-situ　transformation　strategy　without　any　template　or　seed.　Systematic　characterizations　reveal　that　the　synthesized　NaX　zeolite　has　both　inter-crystalline　and　intra-crystalline　mesopores,　smaller　crystal　size,　and　larger　external　specific　surface　area　compared　to　commercial　NaX　zeolite.　Detailed　mechanism　investigations　show　that　the　inter-crystalline　mesopores　are　generated　by　stacking　smaller　crystals　formed　from　in-situ　crystallization　of　the　depolymerized　kaolinite,　and　the　intra-crystalline　mesopores　are　inherited　from　the　pores　in　the　depolymerized　kaolinite.　This　synthesis　strategy　provides　an　energy-saving　and　effective　way　to　construct　hierarchical　zeolites,　which　may　gain　wide　applications　in　fine　chemical　manufacturing.　©　2023　The　Chemical　Industry　and　Engineering　Society　of　China,　and　Chemical　Industry　Press　Co.,　Ltd