A method of producing xylylenediamine by a two-stage hydrogenation of a starting phthalonitrile in a solvent. The main steps of the method are a hydrogenation step 1 and a hydrogenation step 2. In the hydrogenation step 1, a solution of the starting phthalonitrile in the solvent containing liquid ammonia is fed to an inlet of a first reaction zone and the hydrogenation is carried out in the first reaction zone in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, to hydrogenate nitrile groups in the starting phthalonitrile to aminomethyl groups. A part of the hydrogenation product solution from the first reaction zone is circulated to the inlet of the first reaction zone and the rest is introduced into the hydrogenation step 2 where further undergoes the hydrogenation.