The structural stability, orientation effect and melting characteristic of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires are simulated by using the molecular dynamics with many-body tightbinding potential. The structural stability is affected by the geometric shape of the cross section of a nanowire. The nanowire with a hexagonal cross section is more stable than that with another cross section type, namely, a rectangular, triangular, rhombohedral, octagonal, and circular cross section. The structural stability and melting temperature of a nanowire is sensitive to its diameter because of the surface energy and unfavorable coordination. Remarkably, it is observed that hexagonal ZnO nanowires transform to metastable circular-type structures at temperatures lower than the melting point. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.