Moreover, through incorporation of β-galactose (β-Gal) ligands on the surface, we build a hepatic tumor-targeting and H2S-activatable afterglow probe (F12+-ANP-Gal) that offers sensitive detection of subcutaneous and orthotopic liver tumors in living mice and delineation of liver tumor lesions in clinically excised HCC specimens. Here, GAL is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.