It　is　widely　believed　that　small　towns　have　been　playing　a　crucial　role　in　rural　sustainable　development,　as　they　provide　most　public　services　for　rural　residents　living　in　hinterland　villages.　However,　concrete　evidence　from　a　national-level　analysis　based　on　first-hand　survey　data　is　scarce.　This　paper　explores　the　role　of　small　towns　in　servicing　their　rural　hinterlands,　using　nationwide　survey　data　in　31　provinces　throughout　China.　The　role　of　small　towns　is　measured　by　the　mobility　patterns　of　villager　in　using　small-town　services,　namely,　travel　purposes　and　frequency.　The　results　show　that　small　towns　are　the　main　destination　for　access　to　daily　necessities,　agri-cultural　trades,　non-farm　employment,　basic　education　and　minor　medical　treatment　for　rural　villagers.　They　are　universally　important　in　providing　agricultural　products　and　daily　goods,　especially　in　less　developed　areas　in　middle　and　western　parts　of　China.　In　developed　areas,　the　role　of　small　towns　for　non-farm　work,　schooling,　eating　out　and　leisure　activities　tends　to　increase.　The　diverse　role　of　small　towns　depends　mainly　on　socio-economic　development,　urban　proximity　and　public　transport　infrastructure.　High-frequency　village-town　bus　services,　diverse　land　use　and　a　high-quality　public　service　also　affect　the　role　of　small　towns.　The　research　findings　will　enhance　our　knowledge　of　the　central　function　of　small　towns　within　the　rural　hierarchy　in　a　context　of　developing　and　fast　urbanised　countries.