Abstract: Mesoporous carbons with high surface area were successfully prepared from a pitch using MgO as a template. The mixtures of the pitch and the MgO precursors (magnesium acetate and citrate) with different mass ratios in powder form were carbonized at 950℃ in nitrogen. The MgO was dissolved using a 1mol/L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution after carbonization and the porous carbons formed were isolated. The results indicated that most of the pores in the carbons were mesopores, which were generated as a result of the templating action of MgO formed by pyrolysis of the MgO precursors. The BET surface area of the carbons could reach up to 1295m²/g although no activation was performed. The carbon yield was as high as 50% mass fraction when magnesium citrate was used as the MgO precursor.