A series of La-modified Ru/carbon fiber (CF) catalysts was designed, and used for the conversion of levulinic acid (LA) into gamma-valerolactone (GVL) under batch reactor conditions. The dopant of Lanthanum improved the, hydrogenation activity from 37.7 mu mol g(cat)(-1) s(-1) to 216.1 mu mol g(cat)(-1) s(-1) when the mole La/Ru was 0.5 on the catalyst. Even in low temperatures, the Ru1La0.5/CF catalyst also showed a high activity in the hydrogenation of LA. Aiming at a detailed understanding the role of Ru-La interactions in the catalyst, the Ru1Lax/CF catalysts was characterized by the H-2-TPR, H-2-TPD, CO2-TPD, XPS, TEM and CO chemsorption. The electron density of Ru species has been enhanced by La addition to Ru/CF. The hydrogenation activity was a consequence of the amount of Ru active site and the promoting effect of Ru-La interaction.