A novel one-dimensional chain coordination polymer of terbium(Ⅲ)with p-methylbenzoic acid,2,2’-bi-pyridine and 4,4’-bipyridine has been synthesized and characterized.The crystal data of this complex C39H37N3O8Tb are as follows:monoclinic system,space group P21 /n,a=0.974 01(10)nm,b=2.605 8(3)nm,c=1.457 77(14)nm,β=96.108(2)°,V=3.678 9(6)nm3,Dc=1.507 g·cm-3,Mr=834.64,Z=4,μ(Mo Kα)=1.978 mm-1,F(000)=1 684,R1=0.032 4,wR2=0.063 4.The crystal structure of the complex shows that the terbium(Ⅲ)ion is coordinated with eight oxygen atoms,six from five p-methylbenzoic acid molecules and two from two water molecules,respectively,forming the distorted tetraprism geometry.The luminescent property of the complex is also studied.CCDC:619216.