TiO 2 nanobelt-based materials, including TiO 2 nanobelts, acid-corroded (AC) TiO 2 nanobelts and their silver-loaded products, denoted respectively by Ag/TiO 2 nanobelt and Ag/AC TiO 2 nanobelt, were used as fillers to prepare cellulose-based composite papers having photocatalytic activity and antibacterial effects. The composition and morphology of the papers, and the valence state of silver in the papers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The photocatalytic activity, antibacterial effect of papers and the silver ion release rate of silver-containing composite papers was assessed by degrading methylene blue, checking the inhibition ability to E. coli and monitoring the silver ion concentration with time, respectively. The characterization results indicated that the Ag/TiO 2 nanobelt–cellulose composite paper possesses a typical hierarchical structure. TiO 2 nanobelt-based nanomaterials adsorb on the surface of cellulose fibers to form organic–inorganic hybrid fiber paper, while silver nanoparticles are assembled on TiO 2 nanobelt surface to form metal–oxide composite nanobelts. The photocatalytic activity and cycle stability of the hybrid paper in degrading MO solution are enhanced with increasing the fraction of TiO 2 nanobelts. The papers with 40wt% of TiO 2 nanobelt exhibit high photocatalytic activity and keep a high value after three photocatalysis cycles. Paper with silver-loaded TiO 2 nanobelts, particularly with Ag/AC TiO 2 nanobelts, shows good antibacterial effect. This is closely related to the release of silver ion from the paper.