The present invention discloses the magnesium and magnesium alloy surface activating process. The surface activating process includes eliminating surface oxide film and deactivating alkaline carbonatefilm with strong alkali solution containing fluoride, eliminating segregated intermetallic compound with soaking acid solution, creating active protecting film inside activating liquid, and strengthening the protecting film inside the strengthening liquid. The magnesium or magnesium alloy workpiece with the protecting film may be set inside zinc coating solution containing activating agent to coatzinc before plating with copper cyanide, or may be nickel plating directly through chemical plating process.