Small amounts of Rh-promoted Ni/alpha-Al2O3 catalysts possessed higher activity than pure Ni/alpha-Al2O3, Rh/alpha-Al2O3 catalysts and exhibited excellent coke resistance ability in methane reforming with CO2. XRD, H-2-TPR, CO2-TPD and coking reaction (via CH4 temperature-programmed decomposition) indicated that Rh improved the dispersion of Ni, retarded the sintering of Ni and increased the activation of CO2 and CH4 on the surface of catalyst.