The invention discloses a method for preparing near-infrared cadmium telluride quantum dots through hydrothermal treatment. The method comprises the following steps: respectively adding a cadmium saltsolution and a sulfydryl ligand into an aqueous solution, and performing uniform mixing so as to obtain a mixed solution, wherein the mole ratio of the sulfydryl ligand to the cadmium salt is (2-4):1; adjusting the pH value of the mixed solution to 9-11, introducing nitrogen for 30 minutes or longer, adding a sodium hydrogen telluride aqueous solution, and performing uniform mixing so as to obtain a cadmium telluride precursor solution, wherein the mole ratio of the cadmium telluride to cadmium ions is (0.1-0.2):1; heating the cadmium telluride precursor solution for 5 minutes, adding a precipitant, performing centrifugation, removing supernate, adding water, and performing secondary dissolution; adding the cadmium salt solution and the sulfydryl ligand into the dissolved cadmium telluride quantum dots, wherein the mole ratio of thiohydracrylic acid to cadmium chloride is (2-4):1; and adjusting the pH value of the mixed solution to 9-11, and performing heating for a certain time, so as to obtain the cadmium telluride quantum dots with near-infrared light emission. By adopting the method disclosed by the invention, near-infrared cadmium telluride quantum dots can be prepared, and the obtained cadmium telluride quantum dots have good lattice structures.