CeO₂?X (X is the hydrothermal synthesis time, X=3, 6, 12, 24 h) carriers were prepared by varying the hydrothermal synthesis time using Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O and urea as raw materials, and CuO/CeO₂?X catalysts were obtained by isovolumetric impregnation with active component Cu, which were applied to methanol steam reforming (MSR) reaction. The effects of hydrothermal synthesis time on the structure and physicochemical properties of the prepared CeO₂?X carriers and CuO/CeO₂?X catalysts were explored by XRD, BET, H₂?TPR.The performances of the CuO/CeO₂?X catalyst samples were evaluated in methanol steam reforming(MSR) reaction.The results show that the CuO/CeO₂?6 has good catalytic activity. At the reaction temperature of 280 °C, when the molar ratio of water to methanol was 1.2, and the space velocity of methanol vapor (GHSV) was 800 h^-1, the methanol conversion rate could reach 92.8%.