Solid superacid SO4 2−/ZrO2-SiO2 was prepared by dip-impregnation method, and its catalytic activity was tested with esterification of p-nitrobenzoic acid and methanol. The optimum conditions were also found, that is, the molar ratio between silica and zirconia was 10:1, the calcination temperature was 550 °C and the soaked consistency of H2SO4 was 1.0 mol·L−1. Under the conditions that the ratio of methanol to acid(mL/g) was 12:1, the amount of catalyst was 0.5 g, the reaction time was 5 h and the stirring speed was 800 r·min−1, the yield of methyl p-nitrobenzoate could reach up to 90.5%. Then the characterizations of cataslyst, including the acidity and types of acidic centers, specific surface area and surface structure was respectively examined by Hammett indicator, in-situ pyridine IR, BET method, FT-IR(KBr), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the catalyst SO4 2−/ZrO2-SiO2 was superacid with high specific surface area due to H o<-12.70. It contained acidic sites of Lewis and Brψnsted, and its surface structure changed after esterification. The zirconia crystal was mainly tetragonal and silica crystal was not found.