[Objective] D-1,2,4-butanetriol is widely used in military and medicine industry. To realize the biosynthesis of D-1,2,4-butanetriol from D-xylose directly, xylose metabolism of Escherichia coli W3100 was modified. [Methods] The D-xylose dehydrogenease gene xylB from Caulobacter sp. and benzolyformate decarboxylase gene mdlC from Pseudomonas putida were expressed in E. coli W3100, resulted in a recombinant E. coli (pEtac-mdlC-tac-xylB). [Results] When cultivated with 30 g/L D-xylose at 30 °C for 48 h, the titer and molar yield of D-1,2,4-butanetriol reached 0.9 g/L and 4%. [Conclusion] Our results may serve as a start-point for further genetic engineering to enhance the titer of D-1,2,4-butanetriol.