MgO nanowires are synthesized at a lower temperature (T=600 ℃) by pulsed liquid injection metal-organic chemical vapor deposition with Mg(C11H19O2)2 (magnesium bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-3, 5-heptanedionate)) as precursor. The MgO nanowires grow along the 001 direction with gold nanoparticles on the tips, which leads to the vapor-liquid-solid growth mechanism. The growth mode of nanowires (vertical growth to the substrate or parallel growth to the substrate) can be controlled by adjusting the injection period or the injection mass/period.