FeWO4-SnO2 core-shell nanorods are assembled via a two-step method. SnO2 nanoparticles are uniformly coated on the surface of FeWO4 nanorods. And high lithium storage performance has been achieved from them. At C/10 rate (10hours per charging cycle), the reversible capacity (the 2nd cycle) of FeWO4-SnO2 core-shell nanorods is up to 1286.9 mAh g−1, much higher than that of FeWO4 nanorods, SnO2 and traditional theoretical results. Such behaviour is attributed to the synergistic effect between nanostructured SnO2 and FeWO4. Our results imply that core-shell nanocomposites are good candidates for high-capacity anodes of lithium ion battery.