Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics were fabricated and their spectroscopic properties were investigated. The specimens have large absorption and emission cross section. Because of the additive La2O3, the fluorescence lifetime of the specimens were close to that of the glasses. When the Yb3+ and Er3+ contents were 5at% and 0.5at%, the lifetime reached 9.65 ms. The properties of the specimens such as long lifetime, high emission cross section and narrow line width are favorable for the microminiaturization, integration and high power output of lasers.