Nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages (NCNCs) were synthesized by in situ MgO template method usingpyridinecursors.Their specific surface areas and nitrogen contents could be regulated in the range of225～1393and 4.5～12.0 at％,respectively. The NCNCs didnt contain any metal impurities with oxygenreduction reaction (ORR) activity,but demonstrated an outstanding electrocatalytic activity with electron transfernumber of 3.27 and long-term operation stability superior to the commercial Pt/C catalyst in alkaline medium.Theconvenient synthesis,excellent ORR performance,as well as the impurity-free characteristics of the NCNCsindicates their great application potential in fuel cells and the significance in clarifying the origin of the ORRactivity for the doped carbon materials.