In this study, chemo-enzymatic synthesis of furfuralcohol from biomass-derived xylose was successfully demonstrated by a sequential acid-catalyzed dehydration under microwave and whole-cells reduction. After dry dewaxed chestnut shells (CNS, 75 g/L) was acid-hydrolyzed with dilute oxalic acid (0.5 wt%) at 140 degrees C for 40 min, the obtained CNS-derived xylose (17.9 g/L xylose) could be converted to furfural at 78.8% yield with solid acid SO42-/SnO2-Attapulgite (2.0 wt% catalyst loading) in the dibutyl phthalate-water (1:1, v:v) under microwave (600 W) at 180 degrees C for 10 min. In the dibutyl phthalate-water (1:1, v/v) media at 30 degrees C and pH 6.5, the furfural liquor (47.0mM furfural) was biologically converted to furfuralcohol by recombinant Escherichia coli CCZU-Y10 whole-cells harboring an NADH-dependent reductase (PgCR) without extra addition of NAD+ and glucose, and furfural was completely converted to furfuralcohol after 2.5 h. Clearly, this one-pot synthesis strategy can be effectively used for furfuralcohol production.