Interdispersed MnO nanoparticles that are anchored and encapsulated in a three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon framework (MnO@CF) have been constructed, which display nanosphere architecture with rich porosity, well-defined carbon framework configuration, and excellent structure stability. When evaluated as an anode material, the MnO@CF exhibits relatively high specific capacity of 939 mA h g(-1) at current rate of 0.2 A g(-1) over 200 cycles and excellent rate capability of 560.2 mA h g(-1) at 4 A g(-1). By virtue of its mechanical stability and desirable ionic/electronic conductivity, the specific design can be a promising approach to fabricate high-performance lithium-ion batteries.