Nano-sized WC was successfully synthesized on high surface area carbon by a novel carbothermal method wherein carbonization of mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and K2WO4 at 800 degrees C resulted in the simultaneous formation of carbon and WC nano-particles. Different with the common carbothermal method, porous carbon was obtained by pyrolysis of hydroxypropyl cellulose and the reducing gas of H-2 was not necessary.