GeO2 nanorods have been synthesized by means of a carbon nanotubes-confined reaction, carbon nanotubes are used as templates and pure metallic germanium is a reactant instead of the common-used volatile metal or non-metal oxides. The products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that the GeO2 nanorods are perfect single hexagonal crystals covered by an amorphous layer of Ge and O, and have diameters of 50-200 nm and lengths of several mu m.