The invention relates to a method for preparing 1, 4-butanediol by acetoxylation of butadiene. The method mainly solves the problem that because of a low yield and low selectivity after 1, 4-diacetoxybutene hydrogenation in the prior art, the 1, 4-butanediol yield and selectivity are low after the 1, 4-diacetoxybutane hydrolysis. The method comprises that butadiene, acetic acid and oxygen as raw materials undergo an acetoxylation reaction in the presence of an acetoxylation catalyst to produce 1, 4-diacetoxybutene, hydrogen gas and the 1, 4-diacetoxybutene undergo a reaction in the presence ofa hydrogenation catalyst to produce 1, 4-diacetoxybutane, and the 1, 4-diacetoxybutane is hydrolyzed into 1, 4-butanediol. The hydrogenation catalyst utilizes activated carbon as a carrier. The active components comprise a Pt element and a co-catalyst element. The co-catalyst element comprises at least one of alkali metals and group IIIB metals.