The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure, relating to the technical field of semiconductors. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: providing a substrate; forming active pillars arranged in an array on the substrate, a projection shape of a longitudinal section of each of the active pillars includes a cross shape; forming a first oxide layer on the substrate, where a filling region is formed between adjacent active pillars in the same row; sequentially forming a word line and a dielectric layer in the filling region; exposing a top surface of each of the active pillars; forming a contact layer on the active pillars; and forming a capacitor structure on the contact layer.