Eu(III)-doped $CeO_2$ nanorods were prepared by a co-precipitation method at room temperature, and their photoluminescence profiles were examined with different Eu(III)-doping concentrations and thermal annealing temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction crystallography and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy were employed to examine the morphology, crystal structure and photon absorption profiles of the nanorods, respectively. Additionally, their 2D and 3D-photoluminescence profile maps were obtained to fully understand the photoluminescence mechanism. We found that the magnetic dipole $^5D_0{ ightarrow}^7F_1$ and the electric dipole $^5D_0{ ightarrow}^7F_2$ transitions of Eu(III) were highly dependent on the doping concentration, annealing temperature and excitation wavelength, which was explained by the presence of different Eu(III)-doping sites (with and without an inversion center) in the $CeO_2$ host with a cubic crystal structure.