Gold nanochains ranged from several hundred nanometers to more than 5 mu m were synthesized by a modified citrate reduction method. The synthesized nanochains have been characterized by TEM, AFM and UV absorption spectrum. The produced nanochains can be transferred onto the mica surface, and can bear the repeating scan by AFM tip, which may have some potential applications in electronics and catalysis. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.