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One of the most unique structural characteristics of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) differentiating from other carbon materials is their hollow nanochannles, which can be utilized for encapsulating and loading foreign matters. The anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template technique enables the diameter, length, and cap structure control of the replicated CNTs, and thus shows advantages in pore structure control over the traditional CNT growth approaches. This review details the synthesis of CNTs with tunable diameter, length, wall thickness, and crystalline by using the AAO template method. The doping of heteroatoms and filling of foreign matters into AAO-CNTs are also addressed. Moreover, the main challenges and developing trends of the AAO template method are discussed.