SnO2/graphite hierarchical nano-heterostructure was synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method using graphite as the substrate, tin tetrachloride pentahydrate as the tin source, and sodium hydroxide as the precipitant. The morphology, structure and composition of the SnO2/graphite hierarchical nano-heterostructure were characterized by FESEM, XRD, EDS and Raman. It is found that tin dioxide nanowires with good crystallinity are firstly assembled into tin dioxide nanorods, then the tin dioxide nanorods are further assembled into flower-like structures with a diameter of 450 nm and grow uniformly on the graphite sheet, showing a hierarchical structure. The electrochemical performance of those hierarchical nano-heterostructure was tested by cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge-discharge cycle method. The results show that the initial discharge capacity and charge capacity are 1 567.2 mAh/g and 825.9 mAh/g respectively at a charge-discharge current density of 50 mA/g. The cyclic voltammetry curves of different cycles are almost the same, indicating that the SnO2/graphite hierarchical nano-heterostructure has high storage capacity and improved cycle stability.