La modified Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts prepared by co-precipitation method using NaOH-Na2CO3 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 NiAl2O4 is the major active component for POM.