In this work, the hydrodynamics and the micromixing characteristics in the packed and non-packed microchannels were studied experimentally at low Reynolds numbers (8-300). The mixing performances in microchannels were observed with high-speed CCD camera, and were evaluated in terms of a segregation index by the Villermaux/Dushman method. The fluid elements were drastically stretched, folded, and sheared with the effects of micro-particles in packed microchannels, resulting in extremely shorter diffusion distance and larger effective interfacial area, and much higher micromixing efficiency compared with those of non-packed microchannels. Under enough packing length and appropriate packing position of micro-particles, the ideal micromixing performance could be obtained in packed microchannels. Furthermore, the micromixing time in packed microchannels was determined based on the incorporation model, and its value was in the range of 0-0.1 ms. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.