ZnO　nanowire　was　bent　in　a　high-resolution　transmission　electron　microscope　(HRTEM).　The　growth　process　of　tensile　and　compressive　stress-induced　asymmetrical　ZnO　quantum　dots　(QDs)　on　bent　ZnO　nanowire　(NW)　surface　was　observed　in　situ　at　the　atomic　scale.　The　positionally　resolved　atomic-level　strain　distribution　along　the　radial　directions　was　mapped　directly　from　the　atomic-level　strained　HRTEM　images　of　the　bent　ZnO　NW.　The　size,　growth　rate　and　density　of　the　QDs　can　be　significantly　affected　by　the　strain　type　and　magnitude.　These　results　are　helpful　in　controlling　the　fabrication　of　ZnO　QDs.　(C)　2010　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.