In this paper, the oxidation activity of a CuO/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst and the effects of addition of La2O3 on a CuO/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (GO) and methane (CH4) were investigated by means of a micro reactor-GC system. The crystal structure of the catalysts, reduction property and surface oxygen desorption and recovery ability of the catalysts were studied by means of XRD, TPR and TPD-MS. Experimental results show that the addition of La2O3 increases the activity of CuO/gamma-Al2O3 for the oxidation reactions of CO and CH4; the addition of La2O3 promotes the CuO dispersion on gamma-Al2O3 which was in the state of non-crystalline CuO and causes the TPR peak of the La2O3-CuO/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst to move to a lower temperature; the addition of La2O3 has also improves surface oxygen desorption and the recovery ability of the CuO/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst.