Nanowire‐MnO2 and a series of Zr‐doped MnO2 catalysts with different Zr/Mn molar ratios were successively prepared by hydrothermal and impregnation methods. The Zr‐doped MnO2 catalyst with Zr/Mn molar ratio of 0.04 and calcination temperature of 400°C, proved to be the optimal that possessed the highest low‐temperature denitration efficiency. It showed the NO conversion of ~92% and N2 selectivity of ~80% at 150°C. Characterization results demonstrated that the main active phase of the catalyst was β‐MnO2, Zr atoms interacted with Mn atoms, and Zr doping increased the structural defects, oxygen vacancies and weak acid sites, which effectively enhanced the low‐temperature denitration activity and N2 selectivity of β‐MnO2, also improved the water and sulphur resistance to some extent.