La modified Ni/γ-Al_2O_3 catalysts prepared by co-precipitation method using NaOH-Na_2CO_3 as a precipitator show high activity and selectivity for the partial oxidation of methane (POM). Meanwhile, the addition of La is beneficial for the formation of an active component and stability of support. We investigated some factors including calcining temperature, nickel content, and space velocity, which turned out to have a strong influence on catalytic activity and selectivity. By XRD and TPR, it is concluded that Ni0 reduced from amorphous NiAl_2O_4 is the major active component for POM. La modified Ni / γ-Al_2O_3 catalysts prepared by co-precipitation method using NaOH-Na_2CO_3 as a precipitator show high activity and selectivity for the partial oxidation of methane (POM). Meanwhile, the addition of La is beneficial for the formation of an active component and stability of support. We investigated some factors including calcining temperature, nickel content, and space velocity, which turned out to have a strong influence on catalytic activity and selectivity. By XRD and TPR, it is notice that Ni0 reduced from amorphous NiAl_2O_4 is the major active component for POM.