Mg-xGd-3Y-yNd-0.5Zr　alloys　(x　=　6,　8,　10;　y　=　0.5,　1　wt%)　were　prepared　by　hot　extrusion,　pre-annealing　and　ageing　treatments.　After　hot　extrusion,　the　alloys　exhibit　a　bimodal　structure　consisting　of　coarse　deformed　grains　with　strong　basal　texture　and　fine　recrystallized　grains　with　weak　＜　0001　＞　texture.　The　increases　of　Gd　and　Nd　contents　in　the　alloys　effectively　refine　the　grains,　weaken　the　texture,　promote　the　precipitation　of　fine　Mg5RE　(RE:　rare　earth)　particles　and　enhance　the　age-hardening　response.　The　pre-annealing　treatments　generate　a　large　number　of　plate-like　Mg5RE　particles　in　grain　interiors　and　the　bulk　Mg5RE　particles　at　the　grain　boundaries.　These　Mg5RE　particles　crack　into　small　fragments　during　hot　extrusion,　and　hence　promote　the　dynamic　recrystallization　and　further　refine　the　recrystallized　grains　by　pinning　the　grain　boundaries.　The　ductility　and　strength　of　the　alloy　are　simultaneously　improved　due　to　the　pre　-annealing　treatment　prior　to　the　hot　extrusion.　In　the　studied　alloys,　the　peak-aged　Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.5Nd-0.5Zr　alloy　exhibits　the　best　mechanical　performance　with　tensile　yield　strength　of　415　MPa　and　elongation　to　failure　of　4.6　%.　The　alloy　strengthening　is　mainly　attributed　to　the　bimodal　structure,　Mg5RE　phase　at　grain　boundaries　and　beta＇　phase　in　the　grain　interiors.　(C)　2022　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.