Orthorhombic-phase NaMgF3,composed ofbio-friendly elements ofNa,Mg and F,is considered to be an ideal host matrix for preparing trivalent lanthanide (Ln3+)-doped luminescent nanocrystals (NCs) with color-tunable emissions for diverse biological applications.However,the preparation and the survey on optical properties of ultrasmall (< 10 nm) Ln3+-doped NaMgF3 NCs remain nearly untouched to date.In this paper,we report a series of monodisperse Ln3+-doped orthorhombic-phase NaMgF3 NCs with an average size of ~10 nm that was synthesised by using a modified high-temperature co-precipitation method.Utilizing Eu3+ ion as an efficient optical/structural probe,the successful hetero-valence doping of Ln3+ ion into the lattice of NaMgF3 NCs is well-established irrespective of their different valences and radii between the host cation (e.g.Mg2+) and Ln3+ dopant.Benefiting from this,desirable upconversion luminescence (UCL) ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to visible and to near-infrared (NIR) spectral regions can be easily obtained after the doping of typical UCL couples of yb3+/Er3+,yb3+/Tm3+ and yb3+/Ho3+ into the NaMgF3 NCs upon excitation by using a 980-nm diode laser.