The analyses of characterization show that the Ru-La interaction facilities the levulinic acid hydrogenation and the reaction rate was a consequence of the amount of Ru active site and the promoting effect of Ru-La interaction. Display omitted •The addition of La in Ru/Carbon fiber (Ru1La0.5/CF) enhances the catalytic activity, resulting into a maximum reaction rate of (216.1μmolgcat−1s−1) at 100°C.•The increased reactivity was a consequence of the amount of Ru active site and the promoting effect of Ru-La interaction.•The exact nature of the promotional effect of La in the levulinic acid hydrogenation has been clarified. A series of La-modified Ru/carbon fiber (CF) catalysts was designed, and used for the conversion of levulinic acid (LA) into γ-valerolactone (GVL) under batch reactor conditions. The dopant of Lanthanum improved the hydrogenation activity from 37.7μmolgcat−1s−1 to 216.1μmolgcat−1s−1 when the mole La/Ru was 0.5 on the catalyst. Even in low temperatures, the Ru1La0.5/CF catalyst also showed a high activity in the hydrogenation of LA. Aiming at a detailed understanding the role of Ru-La interactions in the catalyst, the Ru1Lax/CF catalysts was characterized by the H2-TPR, H2-TPD, CO2-TPD, XPS, TEM and CO chemsorption. The electron density of Ru species has been enhanced by La addition to Ru/CF. The hydrogenation activity was a consequence of the amount of Ru active site and the promoting effect of Ru-La interaction.