A method for directly preparing p-xylene from synthetic gas and aromatic hydrocarbon. The method includes contacting the feedstock containing synthetic gas and aromatic hydrocarbon excluding p-xylene with the catalyst in the reaction zone under reaction conditions sufficient to convert at least part of the feedstock to obtain a reaction effluent containing p-xylene; and separating p-xylene from the reaction effluent, where the catalyst includes a highly dispersed metal oxide material confined by an inert carrier, an acidic molecular sieve, and optionally at least one of graphite powder and dispersant, where in the highly dispersed metal oxide material confined by the inert carrier, the inert carrier is at least one of silicon oxide and alumina, and the content of the metal oxide in terms of metal is less than or equal to 10% by mass calculated based on the weight of the highly dispersed metal oxide material confined by the inert carrier.