Monodispersed $Bi_2O_2CO_3$ nanoplates with an average width of 320 nm and thicknesses of 50-90 nm were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal method in a mixture solution of polyethylene glycol and $H_2O$. The obtained nanoplates were characterized by means of XRD, FT-IR, SEM and TEM. The effect of surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate on the morphology of $Bi_2O_2CO_3$ product was investigated. Under simulated solar light irradiation, $Bi_2O_2CO_3$ nanoplates exhibited superior photocatalytic activities towards the degradation of RhB as well as high chemical stability upon cycling photocatalytic test. The nanoplates also showed promising photodegradation ability for eliminating refractory pollutant of phenol. The excellent photocatalytic performance of $Bi_2O_2CO_3$ nanoplates as compared with P25-$TiO_2$ endows them as promising high efficiency photocatalysts.