The microstructure,crystal structure and mechanical properties of the hot rolled and annealed Mg-1.5Zn-0.2Gd alloy were investigated by using a metallographic microscope,a SEM and a universal tensile machine.The results show that ( 1) after Mg-1.5Zn-0.2Gd alloy is rolled at 450℃ and subsequently annealed at 350℃ for 60min,the mechanical properties are significantly improved,the texture intensity significantly weakens witha maximum of only 2.3,and the TD split texture appears at ± 30°; ( 2) as compared with the alloys rolled at 450℃,the hot rolled and annealed alloy is of lower yield strength and tensile strength at the room temperature but displaysan excellent elongation which is up to 29.1%; and ( 3) during the annealing,the nucleation in non-basalorientation occurs around the pre-existing grain boundaries,which accounts primarily for the optimized texture ofthe Mg-1.5Zn-0.2Gd alloy.