The atmospheric steam gasification of Jiaohu peat is studied at the temperature range from 973 degrees K to 1123 degrees K. Improvements in gas yield can be realized through catalysis by alkaline metal salts, of which K2CO3 shows the best effect. High temperature and long reaction time favor the increase in gas yield, but they reduce caloric value of the gas product. As for the kinetic description of conversion of peat, the model put forward by Anthony et al., 1976 on coal pyrolysis can satisfactorily predict both catalytic and noncatalytic kinetic behaviors of gasification of peat.