Ce-promoted　NiMgAl　mixed-oxide　(NiCex-C,　x　=　0,　1,　5,　10)　catalysts　were　prepared　from　the　quaternary　hydrotalcite　precursors　for　CO2　hydrogenation　to　methane.　By　engineering　the　Ce　contents,　NiCe5-C　showed　its　prior　catalytic　performance　in　low-temperature　CO2　hydrogenation,　being　about　three　times　higher　than　that　of　the　Ce-free　NiCe0-C　catalyst　(turnover　frequency　of　NiCe5-C　and　NiCe0-C:　11.9　h(-1)　vs.　3.9　h(-1)　@　225　&　DEG;C).　With　extensive　characterization,　it　was　found　that　Ce　dopants　promoted　the　reduction　of　NiO　by　adjusting　the　interaction　between　Ni　and　Mg(Ce)AlOx　support.　The　highest　ratio　of　surface　Ni-0/(Ni2+　+　Ni-0)　was　obtained　over　NiCe5-C.　Meanwhile,　the　surface　basicity　was　tailored　with　Ce　dopants.　The　strongest　medium-strength　basicity　and　highest　capacity　of　CO2　adsorption　was　achieved　on　NiCe5-C　with　5　wt.%　Ce　content.　The　TOF　tests　indicated　a　good　correlation　with　medium-strength　basicity　over　the　NiCex-C　samples.　The　results　showed　that　the　high　medium-strength　and　Ce-promoted　surface　Ni-0　species　endows　the　enhanced　low-temperature　catalytic　performance　in　CO2　hydrogenation　to　methane.