Abstract: The development of a household’s livelihood in rural areas is challenged by multiple risks. In order to stabilize the achievement of poverty alleviation and to promote rural revitalization, it is of great practical importance for rural households to build livelihood resilience to internal and external risks. Based on the resilience assessment framework proposed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this study developed an evaluation index system for measuring livelihood resilience of rural households from five dimensions, including livelihood assets, agricultural exchange and learning, adaptive capacity, social safety nets and access to basic services. Using household surveydata collected from 302 rural households in Qiliping Township, Dabie Mountain area, Hubei Province, this study examines the factors influencing livelihood resilience of rural household and evaluatesits environmental effects usingstatistical analysis and econometric models. The results show that: (1) the livelihood resilience of rural households in the study area is at a medium to high level in general. There is a clear symbiotic relationship between the livelihood resilience of rural households andthe five dimensions measuring it, presenting a gradient and gradual growth trend, among which the adaptive capacity is the weakest aspect of maintaining livelihood resilience. (2) There are a number of factors affecting the livelihood resilience of rural households, including health status, number of labour force, information access channels, involvement in local organizations or associations, the relationship between villagers and farmers, participation in collective affairs, satisfaction with village cadres and the operation of the rules and regulations in a village. (3) Rural households face a variety of negative environmental externalities attributable to their livelihood activities, and this amount increases as their livelihood resilience increases. Consequently, in order to effectively promote the sustainable development of rural livelihoods as well as the local ecological environment, it is necessary to enhance the adaptability of rural households, enhance their livelihood resilience, and minimize the negative impacts of their livelihood activities on the environment.