New　visible-light-sensitive　hierarchical　Bi4V2O11　hollow　microspheres　have　been　successfully　synthesized　by　a　facile　template-free　solvothermal　route.　The　hierarchical　Bi4V2O11　superstructure　was　constructed　of　single-crystalline　nanoplates　with　a　porous　surface.　A　possible　growth　pattern　and　formation　mechanism　of　hierarchical　Bi4V2O11　hollow　microspheres　was　proposed.　The　Brunauer-Emmett-Teller　(BET)　surface　area　of　the　hollow　sample　was　84.613　m(2)　g(-1),　which　was　much　higher　than　other　prepared　Bi4V2O11　powders.　The　hierarchical　Bi4V2O11　hollow　microspheres　exhibited　excellent　visible-light-driven　photocatalytic　activity　for　the　degradation　of　Rhodamine-B　(RhB).　The　improved　photocatalytic　performance　could　be　ascribed　to　the　high　specific　surface　area,　the　narrow　band　gap　and　unique　hierarchical　hollow　structure.　The　resulting　hierarchical　Bi4V2O11　hollow　microspheres　are　very　promising　photocatalysts　for　degrading　organic　pollutants　and　other　applications.