Based on the phenomenon that methane can be activated at low temperature by co-reacting with other hydrocarbon raw materials at 400 ℃ to 600 ℃, different activation mechanisms and reaction paths of methane during this process were reviewed.The characteristics of different types of reactions involving methane after low temperature activation, such as heavy oil modification reaction, olefin hydrogenation reaction, low carbon hydrocarbon aromatization reaction and deoxyaromatization reaction of oxygencontaining compounds, as well as the effects of co-reaction additives and catalytic effects of catalysts, were summarized. It is found that, although the activation mechanism and participation path of methane in the co-reaction process with other raw materials are different, it can be considered that methane is activated at low temperature under the promotion of other macromolecular hydrocarbons and participates in related reactions, playing the role of hydrogen supply, carburization and optimization of product distribution. In particular, in the aromatization process in which methane is involved, the participation of methane can improve product distribution and selectivity of methyl side chain products, etc., which can provide a good research basis for the development of low-cost utilization technology of methane.