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α-Fe₂O₃ fusiform nanorods were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method employing the mixture of FeCl₃·6H₂O and urea as raw materials. The samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–DRS). Its visible-light photocatalytic performances were evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization methylene blue (MB) in visible light irradiation. It was found that pure phase α-Fe₂O₃ nanorods with a length of about 125 nm and a diameter of 50 nm were successfully synthesized. The photocatalytic decolorization of MB results indicated that α-Fe₂O₃ nanorods showed higher photocatalytic activity than that of commercial Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles—these are attributed to its unique three-dimensional structure and lower electron-hole recombination rate.