Cadmium sulfide doped magnesium ions (CdxMg1-xS) one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures have been fabricated through high-temperature solid-vapor deposition process. SEM observation shows that the branched CdxMg1-xS nanowires are vertically aligned over each surface of the nanowire in the radial direction. The multiphoton Raman scattering of the as-prepared samples exhibited the presence of lattice defects in the system. Due to the incorporation of the Mg dopant into CdS, the 1TO, A(1)(TO), E-2(H), and 1LO Raman modes show red-shift and that of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) are broadened. The photoluminescence property shows one broad-band and intensive orange-yellow light emission. The broad-band emission situated at 500-800 nm can be divided into mull-peaks through the Gaussian fitting curves, centered at 535 nm, 607 nm, 652 nm, and 731 nm, respectively. The peaks situated at 535 nm, 607 nm, and 652 nm would be originated by Mg doping to form defects in CdS.