Porous anodic alumina (PAA) hosts with ZnO nanoparticles loaded in were prepared by immersing PAA films in an aqueous solution of zinc acetate and then annealing at high temperatures. Highly ordered ZnO nanodot arrays were produced using the method in combination of PAA template with RF magnetron sputtering deposition. The photoluminescence of the ZnO/PAA composite and the highly ordered ZnO nanodot arrays were investigated by means of a fluorescent spectrometer. The ZnO/PAA composite exhibits intense and broad photoluminescence spectra with the peak position at around 485 nm. The ZnO nanodot arrays have a strong UV light emissive peak at about 380 nm and a wide light emissive peak at 460 nm-610 nm at the room temperature.