Two novel Cd(II) coordination polymers, [(CH 3 ) 2 NH 2 ] 2 [Cd(cma) 2 ](H 2 O) (1) and [Cd 3 (bcma) 2 (H 2 O)](H 2 O) (2) (H 2 cma=N-(carboxymethyl)-anthranilic acid, H 3 bcma=N,N′-bis-(carboxymethyl)-anthranilic acid), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by X-ray single crystal analysis, IR spectra and TGA. Compound 1 possesses 1D double-stranded chain, which further packs into square channels. Compound 2 consists of a novel 3D framework, which not only possesses unique meniscus-like channels but also contains infinite helical chains. Compound 2 is the first example of Cd(II)–aminopolycarboxylate coordination polymers containing three crystallographically independent Cd(II) centres, in which Cd(1), Cd(2), and Cd(3) present distorted pentagonal bipyramidal, tetragonal antiprismatic, and trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry, respectively. Both compounds display intense room temperature photoluminescence in the solid state.