One Yb(Ⅲ)-based coordination polymer, {[Yb(H₂dhtp)_1.5(H₂O)₄]·3H₂O}_n (1) (H₄dhtp=2, 5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid), was fabricated and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis. Complex 1 displays a 1D chain structure, and belongs to P1 group. The solid-state luminescent spectrum of 1 showed an emission band with the maximum at 508 nm (λ_ex=408 nm). It exhibited the emission characteristic of the H₄dhtp ligand. The fluorescence of 1 in water displayed the strongest intensity. In detecting various metal ions, adding Zr⁴⁺ led to a blue shift in fluorescence, accompanied by an increase in intensity, whereas the presence of Fe³⁺ resulted in a decrease in luminescence. The changes observed in the IR spectrum indicate an interaction between Fe³⁺/Zr⁴⁺ and complex 1, resulting in the variation of luminescence properties.