Porous　hollow　structures　have　attracted　tremendous　interests　due　to　their　geometrical　beauty,　unique　structural　features　and　fascinating　physicochemical　properties.　In　the　present　work,　we　developed　a　general　procedure　for　the　synthesis　of　hollow　nanostructured　carbon-wrapped　cerium　oxide　(CeO2/C)　via　a　microwave　hydrothermal　process　without　any　surfactants　or　hard　templates.　The　electrochemical　performances　of　CeO2/C　specimen　were　tested　as　anode　materials　in　lithium　ion　batteries.　The　results　showed　that　CeO2/C　hollow　spheres　exhibited　an　exceptional　cyclic　stability　with　a　high　reversible　capacity　of　313　mA　h　g(-1)　after　500　cycles　at　a　high　current　density　of　1000　mA　g(-1)　without　signs　of　further　degradation　and　also　presented　an　excellent　rate　performance　from　1000　to　10000　mA　g(-1).　The　improved　performances　were　attributed　to　the　homogeneous　carbon　with　3D　network　structure　in　hollow　spheres　and　the　Ce3+　in　the　oxygen-deficient　fluorite-like　CeO2-x　on　the　surface　of　ceria　nanoparticles,　which　enhanced　the　conductivity　of　CeO2　hollow　spheres,　suppressed　the　aggregation　of　active　particles　and　reduced　the　apparent　activation　energy　to　facilitate　the　kinetics　of　Li+　insertion-extraction.　The　unique　hollow　structure　of　CeO2　wrapped　by　conductive　carbon　have　made　CeO2　a　promising　candidate　for　future　applications　in　various　metal　oxide　electrodes　to　mitigate　the　mechanical　degradation　and　capacity　fading,　critical　for　developing　advanced　electrochemical　energy　storage　systems　with　long-cycle　life　and　high-rate　performance.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.