The invention relates to a synthesis and surface modification method of a lithium rich anode material Li1+xM1-xO2 (M is one or more of Ni, Co and Mn, and X is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1/3) for a lithium ion battery. The method comprises the following steps of: synthesizing a precursor by using a carbonate precipitation method, mixing the precursor and a lithium salt, and calcining for 2 to 20 hours at the temperature of between 800 and 1,100 EG C to obtain a lithium rich material, wherein the prepared lithium rich material has controllable particle size and higher reversible capacity; and dissolving persulfate or sulfate in an amount which is 5 to 80 mass percent of the lithium rich material into deionized water, adding the lithium rich material, stirring for 2 to 100 hours at the temperature of between 25 and 80 DEG C, heating the materials to the temperature of between 100 and 500 DEG C in a muffle furnace, calcining the materials for 2 to 20 hours, fully filtering the obtained materials, and washing off impurities to obtain the surface modified anode material Li1+x-yM1-xO2. The synthesized lithium rich material has controllable particle size; the first charge/discharge efficiency of the lithium rich material and the discharge specific capacity and the cyclical stability under high magnification can be improved; and the method is simple, low in cost, convenient for operation and suitable for industrialized production.