Spindle-like porous alpha-Fe2O3 was prepared from an iron-based metal organic framework (MOF) template. When tested as anode material for lithium batteries (LBs), this spindle-like porous alpha-Fe2O3 shows greatly enhanced performance of Li storage. The particle with a length and width of similar to 0.8 and similar to 0.4 mu m, respectively, was composed of clustered Fe2O3 nanoparticles with sizes of <20 nm. The capacity of the porous alpha-Fe2O3 retained 911 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles at a rate of 0.2 C. Even when cycled at 10 C, comparable capacity of 424 mAh g(-1) could be achieved.