Metal Ag nanowire is successfully synthesized in a novel SDS/n-CH3(CH2)(7)OH/AgNO3 solution by taking advantage of the simple UV photochemical reduction method. Both the solvent n-CH3(CH2)(7)OH and the concentration of SDS are critical to the formation of Ag nanowire. A soft template mechanism is put forward to try to interpret the formation of Ag nanowire. It is expected to utilize the simple synthesis technique to prepare many other nanowires.