A mediator and Pt free photocatalytic system is created for H2 production over AuNPs/g-C3N4 hybrids under visible light irradiation. In contrast to pure g-C3N4 and state-of-the-art 3 wt% Pt loaded g-C3N4, ingeniously decorating minute AuNPs onto g-C3N4 can enhance the catalytic activity by about 348 and 25 times, respectively.