Objective To investigate vector breeding sites in and around rural courtyards in Shanxi province, China, and to provide a basis for early warning, prevention, and control of rural vector-borne diseases. Methods Excel 2010 and SPSS 17.0 software were used to perform statistical summarizations and one-way analysis of variance of the investigation data of vector breeding sites in and around 100 rural courtyards in 20 villages in 5 townships in each of the 36 investigated counties in 11 cities in Shanxi province from 2011 to 2017. Results From 2011 to 2017, among the 9 types of vector breeding sites in and around rural courtyards across the province, the proportions of aqua privies and flushing toilets; firewood haystacks; garbage dumps; homes for cows, horses, and sheep; homes for chickens, ducks, and geese; pigsties; sewage ditches; stagnant water pools; and salvage stations were 70.80%, 32.18%, 29.36%, 12.68%, 13.57%, 8.41%, 5.49%, 0.75%, and 0.36%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the annual proportion between the above 9 types of vector breeding sites (except for homes for chickens, ducks, and geese) in and around the rural courtyards (P>0.05), but a significant difference was observed in the proportion of poultry homes between 2012 and 2015 (F=1.492, P=0.005). There were significant differences between 11 cities in the proportion of all types of vector breeding sites (P<0.05). Conclusion The types and distribution of vector breeding sites in and around the rural courtyards in Shanxi province were complex. It is necessary to take some effective measures to prevent and control vector-borne diseases, which include refining the rural living environment, increasing the awareness of disease prevention among the inhabitants, improving their hygienic habits, and reducing the number of and even eliminating vector breeding sites.