Ni/Y 2 O 3 , with Y 2 O 3 support prepared by the conventional precipitation method, was prepared by an impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of Y 2 O 3 and Ni/Y 2 O 3 were characterized by BET, CO 2 -TPD, NH 3 -TPD, TPR, XRF and TGA, and compared with those of γ-Al 2 O 3 and Ni/γ-Al 2 O 3, respectively. The catalytic performance of Ni/Y 2 O 3 in the reaction of partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas was evaluated and compared with that of Ni/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst, too. The results showed that, Y 2 O 3 was a basic support with few acidic sites while γ-Al 2 O 3 was an acidic support. NiO particles supported on Y 2 O 3 were more easily to be reduced than those supported on γ-Al 2 O 3 . In the partial oxidation of methane, Ni/Y 2 O 3 catalyst showed high catalytic activity and exhibited better catalytic stability than Ni/γ-Al 2 O 3 . After POM reaction at 700 °C for 550 h, methane conversion decreased little and only 2.2 wt% carbon was deposited on Ni/Y 2 O 3 catalyst. Ni/Y 2 O 3 was stable in POM even after a series of reaction temperature variations within the temperature range of 400 ∼ 800 °C.