Uncontrollable　growth　of　lithium　(Li)　dendrites　and　low　Coulombic　efficiency　induce　security　hazards　and　a　short　cycling　lifespan　of　Li　metal　batteries.　In　this　study,　well-aligned　ZnO　nanorods　on　a　periodic　three-dimensional　(3D)　copper　mesh　(CM)　are　modified　as　lithiophilic　anchor　points　to　regulate　the　electrodeposition　behavior　of　Li　metal　anodes.　The　in　situ　generated　LiZn/Li2O　arrays　can　efficiently　guide　the　homogeneous　Li　electrodeposition　along　the　nanorods.　The　porous　structure　of　CM　provides　void　space　for　the　well-controlled　lateral　growth　of　Li　starting　from　nanorod　arrays.　Moreover,　the　high　surface　area　generated　by　both　CM　and　the　ZnO　nanorods　favors　the　charge　transfer　with　low　local　current　densities　along　the　anode.　Compared　with　bare　Li　anodes,　Li-ZnO@CM　anodes　exhibited　prolonged　cycling　stability　for　symmetric　cells　and　superior　capacity　retention　within　Li/LiFePO4　full　cells,　demonstrating　the　effective　design　principles　of　ZnO@CM　for　stabilizing　Li　metal　batteries.