An egg shell-yolk NiO/C porous composite has been prepared as lithium-ion battery anode material by two-pot hydrothermal method. Thermogravimetry(TG), X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen isothermal adsorption-desorption have been used to study the microstructure of the material. LANHE cell tester and electrochemical workstations are used to investigate electrochemical performance. Results show that amorphous carbons exist in porous NiO/C, which possesses an internal loose spherical structure. The discharge capacity for the 100th cycle is maintained at 625.3mAh/g, and the capacity retention ratio is 94.1% relative to the 2nd discharge capacity. The composite has a unique egg shell-yolk porous structure, which buffers the volume change and prevents the aggregation of active NiO material during cycling to enhance material performance. When the current density is increased to 800mA/g, the capacity stabilizes at 400.1mAh/g, reflecting an outstanding rate performance.