We here report the fabrication of a core-shell WO3@ZnIn2S4 heterostructure by an interfacial seeding growth strategy, which is implemented by direct growth of ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on the surface of WO3 nanorods with forming a strong electronic interaction between two semiconductors that are beneficial for promoting the interfacial charge transfer. Systematic studies demonstrate that the WO3@ZnIn2S4 nanohybrids hold superior performance for photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light irradiation with a production rate of 3900 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). This work provides an effective approach to construct the direct Z-scheme photocatalytic systems for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, which would be significant for the design of more direct Z-scheme system for various photocatalytic applications. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.