We　present　an　alkali　solution　aided　(ASA)　activation　approach　to　activate　kaolin　microspheres　and　its　application　to　synthesize　in-situ　crystallized　zeolite/kaolin　composite　materials.　Compared　with　conventional　thermal　activation　methods,　the　ASA　activation　can　high-effectively　convert　silicon　and　aluminum　species　in　kaolin　microspheres　into　active　silica　and　alumina　for　synthesizing　zeolite/kaolin　composites,　leading　to　a　successful　synthesis　of　zeolite/kaolin　composites　with　high　zeolite　content　and　outstanding　attrition　resistance.　When　used　as　a　fluid　catalytic　cracking　catalyst,　the　resulting　zeolite　Y/kaolin　composite　gave　high　conversion　efficiency　of　vacuum　oil　and　high　selectivity　to　valuable　products.　©　2017