The　bamboo-like　silicon　carbide　nanofibers　were　synthesized　by　the　carbothermal　reduction　of　the　carbonaceous　silicon　xerogel　containing　lanthanum　nitrate.　The　xerogel　was　heated　to　1300　degrees　C　in　argon　flow　in　a　horizontally　tubular　reactor　and　produced　as-synthesized　sample.　The　assynthesized　sample　was　then　heated　in　air　at　700　degrees　C　for　removal　of　the　residual　carbon　and　treated　by　nitric　acid　and　then　hydrofluoric　acid　for　elimination　of　the　unreacted　silica　and　other　impurities.　The　purified　product　was　characterized　by　XRD,　SEM,　TEM　and　HRTEM.　The　results　indicated　that　the　product　was　barnboo-like　beta-SiC　nanofibers　with　a　diameter　of　40-100　nm　and　a　length　of　tens　to　hundreds　of　micrometers　and　had　planar　stacking　faults　perpendicular　to　the　fiber　axis.　(c)　2005　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.