We have synthesized ZnS nanowires with mane-like branches by thermal evaporation of ZnS powder on the Au-coated Si(100) substrate using a two-heating zone tube furnace. The ZnS powder and the Si substrate were kept at 1,000 and 850 °C, respectively, in a nitrogen atmosphere during synthesis of the ZnS nanostructures. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy analyses were performed to investigate the structure, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the products. The axial nanowires grow along the [002] direction and have diameters of 100–200 nm, while on the other hand the branch nanowires grow along the [101] direction and their diameters and lengths are 30–50 and 800–100 nm, respectively. The room temperature PL spectrum with a Gaussian fitting exhibits two visible light emission bands centered at around 397 and 458 nm.