A coordination polymer of [ZnII(Pta)2(4,4′-Bipy)(H2O)2] n (HPta = 2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)acetic acid, 4,4′-Bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine) was synthesized and characterized by IR, fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal diffraction (CIF file CCDC no. 1001498). The complex crystallizes in triclinic, space group $$P\bar 1$$ with a = 5.574(2), b = 11.514(5), c = 12.140(5) Å, α = 64.653(6)°, β = 86.859(8)°, γ = 84.282(7)°, V = 700.6(5)Å3, ρ c = 1.569 g/cm3, Z = 1, C30H28N8O6Zn, Mr = 661.97, F(000) = 342, μ = 0.938 mm−1, the final R = 0.0578 and wR = 0.1241 for 4876 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). In this complex, the 1,2,3-triazole-carboxylic acid ligand, which only supplies a carboxylic anion to coordinate with Zn2+ ions, while the nitrogen atoms of 1,2,3-triazole don’t coordinate with Zn2+ ions, the 4,4′-bipyridine ligand serves as a linker to form a 1D chain structure, the abundant hydrogen bonding which plays an important role in forming 2D structure. Compared with free HPta and 4,4′-Bipy, the intensity of fluorescence of Pta with Zn(OAc)2 and 4,4′-Bipy with Zn(OAc)2 enhanced. However, the complex displays fluorescence quenching, which probably be caused by charge transfer which due to HPta and 4,4′-Bipy mutual coordination with Zn(II).