A method for preparing hollow nanofibers having carbon as a primary component, which comprises contacting a carbon-containing compound with a catalyst at a temperature of 500 to 1200 DEG C, wherein as the catalyst use is made of a catalyst comprising a zeolite exhibiting the thermal resistance at 900 DEG C and, supported thereon, a metal; a catalyst comprising a metallosilicate zeolite containinga heteroatom except aluminum and silicon in the structural framework thereof and, supported thereon, a metal; a catalyst comprising a supporting material and, supported thereon, fine cobalt particlesexhibiting a binding energy of a cobalt 2P3/2 electron of 779.3 to 781.0 eV, as measured by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; a catalyst comprising a supporting material and, supported thereon, fine cobalt particles exhibiting a cobalt atom ratio in the surface of the supporting material of 0.1 to 1.5%, as measured by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy under a condition of 10 kV and 18 mA; a catalyst comprising a supporting material and, supported thereon, fine cobalt particles exhibiting a weight ratio of cobalt to a second metal component (weight of cobalt/weight of the second metal component) of 2.5 or more; or a catalyst comprising a zeolite having a film form and, supported on the surface thereof, a metal.