Based　on　quantitative　analysis　employing　a　national-level　survey　data　of　small　towns　in　2016,　the　characteristics　and　influencing　factors　of　the　public　service　capacity　of　small　towns　in　China　were　analyzed　from　the　perspective　of　villagers＇　travel　behavior.　Results　show　that　small　towns　are　still　the　main　service　destinations　providing　various　types　of　daily　public　services　to　hinterland　villagers.　It　plays　an　important　role　in　basic　services　such　as　agricultural　production,　daily　supply　of　goods　and　primary　medical　services.　As　the　level　of　goods　or　services　rises,　the　public　service　capacity　of　small　towns　decreases,　particularly　in　terms　of　inadequate　higher-level　medical　services.　Enhancing　village-town　bus　services,　shopping　options,　employment　opportunities　and　the　quality　of　healthcare　services　tend　to　strengthen　the　role　of　small　towns　in　serving　their　villagers.　More　attention　should　be　given　to　specialized　services　for　low-income　and　disadvantaged　groups　with　limited　travel　capacity.　©　2023　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.