<p>Endowing stimuli-responsive materials with micro-nano structures is an intriguing strategy for the fabrication of superwetting surfaces; however, its application is limited by poor chemical/mechanical stability. Herein, a simple and versatile strategy was developed to fabricate durable polymeric superwetting surfaces with photoswitchable wettability on hierarchically structured metallic substrates. Inspired by nature, a novel functional terpolymer incorporating mussel-inspired catechol groups, photoresponsive azobenzene groups, and low-surface-energy fluorine- containing groups was synthesized <i>via</i> solution radical polymerization. The azobenzene-containing terpolymer possesses outstanding photoresponsiveness in both the solution and film states because of the <i>trans-cis</i> isomerization of the azobenzene moieties. After dip-coating with the mussel-inspired azo-copolymer, the as-prepared smart surfaces exhibited a photo-triggered change in wettability between high hydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity. More importantly, these superwetting surfaces with enhanced adhesion properties can tolerate harsh environmental conditions and repeated abrasion tests, thereby demonstrating excellent chemical robustness and mechanical durability. This study paves a new avenue for the convenient and large-scale fabrication of robust smart surfaces that could find widespread potential applications in microfluidic devices, water treatment, and functional coatings.</p>