Core/shell CdTe/ZnS colloidal quantum dots with varying dopant levels (4.7鈥?.7%) of paramagnetic manganese ions spatially distributed within the thin ZnS shell are synthesized by the aqueous approach. They exhibit both strong fluorescence originating from the CdTe core (up to 45% room temperature emission quantum yield) and high ionic relaxivity in the range of 10.7鈥?.4 mM鈥? s鈥?, which render them promising dual fluorescent/paramagnetic probes.