A novel 6-hydroxy chromone-3-carbaldehyde benzoyl hydrazone ligand and its four complexes, [LnL2(NO3)2]NO3 [Ln = Eu(1), Sm(2), Tb(3), Dy(4)], were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by the elemental analyses, molar conductivity and IR spectra. The crystal and molecular structure of Sm(III) complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P-1, Z = 1, a = 11.037(4) A, b = 14.770(5) A, c = 15.032(7) A, alpha = 60.583(4), beta = 75.528(7), gamma = 88.999(4), R1 = 0.0349. The fluorescence properties of complexes in the solid state and in the organic solvent were studied in detail, respectively. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light, strong red fluorescence of solid europium complex was observed. But the green fluorescence of solid terbium complex was not observed. These observations show that the ligand favor energy transfers to the emitting energy level of Eu3+. Some factors that influence the fluorescent intensity were also discussed.