Four perovskite-type complex oxides (LaNiO3, La2NiO4, LaCoO3 and La2CoO4) were suc-cessfully prepared using two sol-gel methods, the Pechini method (PC) and the citric acid complexingmethod (CC). The catalysts were characterized by XRD and TPR. After reduction, the activity of thecatalysts in the CO2 reforming of methane was tested. Ni-based catalysts from La2NiO4 precursors werethe most active and stable catalyst after calcination above 850 ℃, which gave a methane conversion of0.025 mmol/(g@s) for those prepared by the PC method and 0.020 mmol/(g.s) by the CC method. Itwas proposed that the well-defined structure and lower reducibility is responsible for the unusual catalyticbehavior observed over the pre-reduced La2NiO4 catalyst.