NaGdF4:Nd3+ nanoparticles and nanorods are synthesized by hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscope(SEM) are used to characterize the crystal strcucture and morphologies of these nanocrystals, respectively. Their luminescent properties at room temperature are studied and compared with those of the bulk powders. In particular, thermal queching characteristics for the luminescence of Nd3+ are studied, and the temperature dependence of luminescence of NaGdF4:Nd3+ nanocrystals and bulk powders are fitted. It is observed that the thermal quenching rate in NaGdF4:Nd3+ nanocrystals is lower than that in the bulk powders, and the thermal quenching rate in nanoparticles is close to that in nanorods.