The Battle of Julu was fought in Julu (now in Xingtai, Hebei) in 207 B.C. primarily between Qin forces led by Zhang Han, and Chu rebels led by Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu emerged victorious, defeating a large Qin army with a small number of soldiers. This battle laid the foundation for the military decline of Qin, as the major Qin forces were eliminated here.

Xiang Yu first sent Ying Bu with 20,000 Chu men across the river to reinforce Julu, winning a few skirmishes. Xiang then led the remaining majority of the army across the river, sinking his own ships to make sure no one retreated from battle.

Xiang then proceeded with 10,000 Chu troops with due haste to Handan, capital of Zhao, to meet up with his 20,000 troops up front. At the time of his arrival at the battlefield, the city of Julu and the Zhao forces within had been nearly starved by the seizing Qin forces, under General Wang Li, the assistant to Zhang Han. Xiang understood the importance of reducing the Qin forces' effectiveness first, and he accomplished this by cutting off Wang's supply lines. He then ordered his forces to carry three days of supplies and destroy the rest—in other words; giving his forces no real possibility of retreating alive—before engaging Wang in battle. With cooking utensils and food supplies destroyed, the Chu troops knew that the only way for them to survive would be to defeat the Qin army and take supplies from them. As a result, Xiang's army was incredibly fierce, winning every skirmish outnumbered, as if "one Chu soldier can take on ten Qin soldiers".

The forces from the other rebel principalities arrived a few days later. Still, despite Chu victories, no other relief force sent by other rebel principalities dared to engage the vast Qin forces, and Xiang attacked them alone. He fought nine engagements and destroyed the Qin supply corridor, crumbling the Qin forces. With losses amounting to over 100,000 men, Zhang Han was forced to retreat out of Julu, planning to defend Jiyuan until additional reinforcements arrived from the imperial palace. General Su Jue was killed in action, and Wang Li was captured. Jue refused to surrender and set himself on fire.

The Battle of Julu was a major victory for Xiang. His "smash (cooking) pots, sink boats" tactic greatly increased the morale of the Chu troops, which was one of the most important factors in the victory. But after this battle, his cruelty cost him. Had he not killed the 200,000 Qin troops, he would have no problem beating Liu Bang to Guanzhong, and avoided the problems that came from it.