Semiconductor CdX (X=Te, Se, S) hollow structures have been successfully prepared by using Cd(OH)Cl precursors as a sacrificial template. The hollow structures can be hollow spheres or tubes by controlling the shape of the sacrificial template. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The obtained results showed that the hollow structures had complementary shapes and sizes of the original sacrificial templates. This is a general method for the synthesis of cadmium chalcogenide hollow structures, and the method is simpler and more practical than direct synthesis of certain hollow structures, which further widens the avenue to using those materials that have been synthesized with various shapes to fabricate specific hollow structures.