The Cu/ZrO2 catalysts prepared by the co-precipitation with NaOH-Na2C2O4 mixture solution exhibited high activity and stability in the hydrogen production through partial oxidation of methanol. The methanol conversion and the selectivity to hydrogen can be up to 100 and 92% at 533 K with molar ratio of O-2/CH3OH at 0.5, respectively. Characterization results indicated that CuO were well dispersed into the ZrO2 lattices which induced the strong Cu-Zr interaction as well as good stability and lower valance of Cu species were supposed as the activate sites. The good catalytic performance and long-term stability of the novel Cu/ZrO2 catalysts could be attributed to the high copper species dispersion on zirconium components and high active specific copper surface area with a much strong Cu-Zr interaction as well as a beneficial synergy of ZrO2 promotion.