Physical and chemical properties of nanoscale bamboo charcoal were systematically investigated. Nanoscale bamboo charcoal was tested for phenanthrene sorption in aqueous and soil-water systems. Nanoscale bamboo charcoal had high ability for phenanthrene sorption in soil-water system, even at a low addition rate of 0.2% in soils. Nanoscale bamboo charcoal would be more competitive than some biochars in aqueous and soil-water systems. This finding increases our knowledge of nanoscale bamboo charcoal for organic pollutants remediation in soil.