1-.alpha.-halo-2,2-difluoro-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose derivative of formula (I) having the 3-hydroxy group protected with a biphenylcarbonyl group is a solid which can be easily purified by a simple procedure such as recrystallization, and therefore, it can be advantageously used as an intermediate in the preparation of gemcitabine in a large scale. Further, the 1-.alpha.-halo-2,2-difluoro-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose derivative of formula (I) can be prepared with high stereoselectivity using the compound of formula (V) as an intermediate.