Using the V-shaped oba dianions as bridging ligands and dpa molecules as terminal ligands, a new 1D helical coordination-polymeric chain, [Zn(oba)(dpa)]n [oba=oxybis(4-benzoate), dpa=di(2-pyridyl)amine], was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, UV-Vis and IR spectra, and TGA analysis. X-ray structural analysis revealed that, oba and dpa ligands played an important role in the self-assembly of the helical chains by providing potential supramolecular recognition sites for π-π aromatic stacking and hydrogen-bond interactions, resulting in the self-assembly of the (4,4) networks to give a 3-D supramolecular framework. The photoluminescence properties of the title compound were also investigated, showing intense blue photoluminescence properties at room temperature.