A series of Cu-Zn-Ce catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, and N-2 adsorption. The catalytic activities of the Cu-Zn-Ce catalysts in gas phase hydrogenation of maleic anhydride in the presence of n-butanol were studied at 220-280 degrees C and 1 MPa. The conversion of maleic anhydride was more than 97%. After reduction, CuO species present in the calcined Cu-Zn-Ce catalysts were converted to metallic copper (Cu degrees). The presence of ZnO in the Cu-Zn-Ce catalysts was beneficial to stabilizing the catalytic activity in maleic anhydride hydrogenation to gamma-butyrolactone. At the same time, n-butanol was dehydrogenated to butyl aldehyde, then to butyl butyrate via reactions, such as disproportionation and esterification. Cu-Zn-Ce catalysts are beneficial to the H-2 compensation in the coupling process of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation.