Although　the　built　environment–travel　connection　has　been　extensively　examined　in　urban　settings,　evidence　from　rural　and　small　towns　is　still　scarce.　This　paper　addresses　this　gap　by　exploring　the　influence　of　the　built　environment　on　travel　mode　choice　using　national-level　survey　data　from　119　rural　towns　throughout　China.　The　results　show　that　rural　built　environment　variables　significantly　influence　mode　choice,　with　socioeconomic,　regional　economic　and　natural　environment　factors　controlled:　at　regional　level,　close　proximity　to　county　centres,　highways　and　bus　stops　tend　to　reduce　car　dependence.　At　local　level,　small-scale,　compact,　and　mixed　land　use　encourage　walking　and　bus　use.　The　built　environment　influences　mode　choices　for　shopping　trips　more　than　commuting　trips.　The　results　suggest　that　spatial　planning　for　land　use　and　transport　networks　will　be　effective　in　shaping　greener　travel　and　sustainable　transport　development　in　rural　areas　of　China　and　in　developing　countries　with　similar　contexts.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd