Objective To investigate the resistance of malaria vector Anopheles to five insecticides in Liaoning province, China and to provide a basis for prevention and control strategies. Methods The filter paper contact method for adult mosquitoes, as recommended by WHO, was used to measure the mortality of malaria vector Anopheles and its susceptibility to five insecticides. Results Malaria vector Anopheles had resistance to five insecticides in Donggang city of Dandong and Beizhen city of Jinzhou, and the lowest mortality was only 16.7%. In Dandong, Tieling, and Jinzhou, Anopheles mosquitoes also developed varying degrees of resistance to 4% DDT, 0.05% deltamethrin, and 0.05% beta-cypermethrin, with the highest mortality of 97.4%. The 0.1% propoxur had good lethal effect on malaria vector Anopheles in Zhen'an district of Dandong and Kaiyuan city of Tieling, and 0.75% permethrin had good lethal effect on Anopheles mosquitoes in the Zhen'an district, all leading to a mosquito mortality of 100%. Conclusion In some areas of Liaoning province, malaria vector Anopheles maintains high resistance to DDT, and it also has varying degrees of resistance to beta-cypermethrin and deltamethrin. Thus, it is necessary to properly use the insecticides for delaying the development of insecticide resistance. Malaria vector Anopheles is relatively sensitive to propoxur and permethrin, so the two can be applied as main insecticides for Anopheles control at present.