The　sol-gel-hydrothermal　processing　of　(Na0.8K0.2)(0.5)Bi0.5TiO3　(NKBT)　nanowires　as　well　as　their　densification　behavior　were　investigated.　The　morphology　and　structure　analyses　indicated　that　the　sol-gel-hydrothermal　route　led　to　the　formation　of　phase-pure　perovskite　NKBT　nanowires　with　diameters　of　50-80　nm　and　lengths　of　1.5-2　mu　m,　and　the　processing　temperature　was　as　low　as　160　degrees　C,　but　the　conventional　sol-gel　route　tended　to　lead　to　the　formation　of　NKBT　agglomerated　porous　structured　nanopowders,　and　the　processing　temperature　was　higher　than　650　degrees　C.　It　is　believed　that　the　gel　precursor　and　hydrothermal　environment　play　an　important　role　in　the　formation　of　the　nanowires　at　a　low　temperature.　Owing　to　the　better　packing　efficiency　and　therefore　a　good　sinterability　of　the　freestanding　nanowhiskers,　the　pressed　pellets　made　by　NKBT　nanowires　showed　＞　98%　theoretical　density　at　1100　degrees　C　for　2　h.　The　sol-gel-hydrothermal-derived　ceramics　have　typical　characteristics　of　relaxor　ferroelectrics,　and　the　piezoelectric　properties　were　better　than　the　ceramics　prepared　by　the　conventional　sol-gel　and　solid-state　reaction.