In this article, we synthesized an azo dye rotaxane containing bis(8-hydroxyquinoline) group and its polymeric metal complex with zinc. The azo dye rotaxane exhibits high pH sensitivity, solvatochromism and zinc (II) ion sensings in aqueous solution. These behaviors came from the tautomeric equilibrium between azo-hydrazone tautomers and the formation of extended conjugation. The structure of polymeric zinc complexed dye rotaxane was confirmed with NMR and FT-IR measurements. The existence of CD rings, provided by dye rotaxane formation, was found to be very beneficial in improving aqueous solubility of polymeric metal complex.