The effect of promoter Ce on the catalytic performance of N1/Al2O3 catalyst for autothermal reforming of methane to hydrogen was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the catalytic performance of the catalysts was improved with the addition of Ce. Ni/Ce3oAl70Oδ showed the highest CH4 conversion in operation temperatures ranging from 650 ℃ to 850 ℃. At the same time, the decrease in H2/CO ratio with increasing reaction temperature was consistent with the fact that water-gas shift reaction was thermodynamically unfavorable at higher temperatures. The XRD result indicated that adding Ce to N1/AI2O3 catalyst prevented the formation of NiAl2O4 and facilitated the formation of NiO. The formation of NiO increased the number of active sites, resulting in higher activity. Comparing the TPR profiles of Ni/Ce30Al70Oδ with Ni/Al2O3, it could be clearly observed that with the addition of Ce, the total reduction peak areas in the middle and low temperatures increased. It was most probably that the addition of Ce inhibited the stronger interaction between Ni and Al2O3 to form the phase of NiAl2O4, and favored the formation of the strong interaction between NiO species and CeO2. Therefore, the addition of Ce to the N1/AI2O3 catalyst increased the active surface that promoted the activity of the catalyst.