We developed a simple and efficient method for synthesizing Te nanowires from CdTe nanoparticles with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt dehydrate (EDTA) as shape controller under hydrothermal condition. The system could both complete the transformation to Te and reduce the interference of CdTeS by adjusting the concentration of EDTA, which was proved by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction patterns, and Raman spectra. It was found that the as-prepared Te nanowires display strong fluorescence emission in the blue-violet region. The nanowires exhibit a pretty good morphology with the average diameter of ca. 30 nm and a length up to micrometer scale. Moreover, a possible transformation mechanism of CdTe nanoparticles into Te nanowires is also discussed.