YF3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers were successfully fabricated via fluorination of the relevant Y2O3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers which were obtained by calcining the electrospun PVP/[Y(NO3)3 + Er(NO3)3] composite nanofibers. The morphology and properties of the products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and fluorescence spectrometer. YF3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers were pure orthorhombic phase with space group Pnma and were hollow-centered structure with the mean diameter of 172 +/- 23 nm, and YF3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers were composed of nanoparticles with the diameter ranging from 30 nm to 50 nm. Upconversion emission spectrum analysis manifested that YF3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers emitted strong green and weak red upconversion emission centering at 524 nm, 543 nm and 653 nm, respectively. The green emissions and the red emission were respectively originated from 2H11/2/4S3/2 --> 4I15/2 and 4F9/2 --> 4I15/2 energy levels transitions of the Er3+ ions. Moreover, the emitting colors of YF3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers were located in the green region in CIE chromaticity coordinates diagram. The luminescent intensity of YF3:Er3+ hollow nanofibers was increased remarkably with the increasing doping concentration of Er3+ ions. The possible formation mechanism of YF3:Er3+ upconversion luminescence hollow nanofibers was also discussed. This preparation technique could be applied to prepare other rare earth fluoride upconversion luminescence hollow nanofibers.