In the paper, we report synthesis of lithium rich layered oxide 0.3Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.7LiNi 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 by using an urchin-like MnO 2 as precursor. The influences of calcination temperatures on the structures and electrochemical performances of as-prepared materials are systematically studied. The results show that the obtained sample can partially retain the morphology of urchin-like precursor especially at low temperature, and a higher calcination temperature helps to improve the layered structure and particle size. As lithium ion battery cathodes, the 750 °C sample with the size of 100–200 nm reveals an optimal electrochemical performance. The initial discharge capacity of 234.6 mAh g −1 with high Coulombic efficiency of 84.6 % can be reached at 0.1C within 2.0–4.7 V. After 50 cycles, the capacity retention can reach 90.2 % at 0.5C. Even at high current density of 5C, the sample also shows a stable discharge capacity of 120.5 mAh g −1 . Anyways, the urchin-like MnO 2 directed route is suitable to prepare 0.3Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.7LiNi 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 as lithium ion battery cathode.