A novel host inclusion complex of cross-linking-polymeric-beta-cyclodextrin-o-vanillin furfuralhydrazone (beta-CDP-OVFH) was synthesized and characterized with IR and 1H NMR spectra to confirm its structure. The coordination reaction of the host reagent with Cd(2+) was studied and the optimum reacting conditions were observed carefully. A highly selective and sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of trace amount of cadmium was proposed based on the reaction of Cd(2+) with beta-CDP-OVFH in ammonia water-ammonium acetate buffer medium of pH = 11.0. The molar ratio of beta-CDP-OVFH to Cd(2+) was 1:1. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths were 393 and 494 nm, respectively. The linear range of this method was from 3.0 to 500 microg l(-1) with a detection limit of 0.80 microg l(-1). The effect of interferences in the determination of cadmium was investigated and the results showed that the host reagent had quite high capacity of identifying Cd(2+). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amount of Cd(2+) in mussel and tea samples.