Identical 34-membered [2 + 2] pendent-armed Schiff-base macrocyclic ligands (H4La and H4Lb) can be constructed via the condensation reactions between rigid o-phenylenediamine and extended dialdehydes (H2hpdd/H2pdd) in the presence of either Ln(III) or Zn(II) template with remarkable distinction on the ion radii and charge. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses reveal the formation of mononuclear Ln(III) complexes (1-4 and 7) and dinuclear Zn(II) complexes (5 and 6). It is noted that Ln(III) macrocyclic complexes have eight-coordinate sandwich-like mononuclear structures fully surrounded by flexible and large-sized macrocyclic ligands. Photophysical studies have demonstrated that both H4La and H4Lb can serve as effective sensitizers for the Yb(III) ion (2 and 7) exhibiting near-infrared emission at 974 nm with high quantum yields in solution (C2H5OH and CH3OH, ∼1%). Moreover, the quantum yields of two Yb(III) complexes 2 and 7 could be increased ∼15% in CH3OH under weak alkaline condition (pH = 8-9), while no significant changes are observed in C2H5OH by contrast. We think the unique sandwich-like macrocyclic structures of Yb(III) complexes 2 and 7 play important roles in simultaneously guaranteeing the effective match of the energy levels of Yb(III) centers as well as shielding from the solvent molecules and counterions.