Effects of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) initial concentration, Pb (NO3) 2, Cd (NO3) 2, PbCl2 and CdCl2 on the photodegradation of CIP using UV irradiation were investigated. The experiments results showed that UV irradiation could lead to effective removal of CIP, but there was no CIP degradation in dark. The photodegradation rate of CIP reduced with increasing initial concentration under UV irradiation. Pb(NO3)2 and Cd(NO3)2 (except for the experiment group of 0.006 mmol x L(-1)) could enhance CIP photodegradation, and the half-life of CIP gradually increased with increasing molar ratio between heavy metal and CIP ( with the decreasing concentration of nitrate). With increasing molar ratio (with the decreasing concentration of chlorate), PbCl2 and CdCl2 first promoted and then inhibited the CIP photodegradation.