The invention relates to a method for preparing nano zinc oxide and crystal whisker zinc oxide by using industrial zinc sulfate as a raw material, which belongs to the technical field of preparation of inorganic chemical materials. The method uses a simulated industrial zinc sulfate solution containing impurities of manganese and magnesium as the raw material, and comprises the following steps: firstly, removing the manganese by adopting an oxidation method, and separating the magnesium and zinc by adopting a neutral complex magnesium-dissolving and zinc-depositing mode so as to prepare a precursor of a nano zinc salt; and secondly, preparing the crystal whisker zinc oxide with a regular shape by using a hydrothermal orientated growth method, or preparing high-purity nano zinc oxide by using a roasting method. The method well meets the prior zinc wet method metallurgical process, and has the advantages of clean and simple process, good impurity removing effect, high zinc total yield, low cost, excellent product performance, high added value and easy industrial popularization. The nano zinc oxide and the crystal whisker zinc oxide prepared by the method have regular shapes and uniform grain size, and can be used as functional packing materials or reinforcing materials applied to the fields of alloy, resin, rubber, ceramics, plastics, coatings, electronics and the like.