In this study, a sulphur and nitrogen dual-doped carbon catalyst was prepared via an easy route with p-phenyldiamine and (NH4)(2)S2O8 as the nitrogen and sulphur source, respectively. The obtained catalyst displayed efficient acetylene conversion for acetylene hydrochlorination, and the presence of sulphur enhanced the catalytic activity of the nitrogen-doped carbon catalyst. These catalysts show that sulphur and nitrogen have a synergistic effect for acetylene hydrochlorination. Furthermore, because of the addition of different sulphur contents, the pyrrolic N content causes certain changes in the catalysts, resulting in differences in the catalytic activity. Theoretical investigations reveal that the adsorption ability of C2H2 was enhanced by the doping of the S and N-doped carbon catalyst. This is an environmentally friendly catalyst with a broad development prospect and is cheap and easy to obtain.