Based on the questionnaire of 10 sample ancient towns and villages in Shanxi Province, we analyze the poverty occurrence characteristics of ancient towns and villages in Shanxi Province: the poverty incidence in ancient towns and villages is high, with the slow pace of poverty reduction; the regional characteristics of poverty is prominent; there are conspicuous differences in income between residents living in old houses and residents not living in old houses; poverty reduction shows vulnerability and instability. Then we put forward countermeasures for poverty reduction of ancient towns and villages in Shanxi Province as follows: first, improving the targeting mechanism of poverty in ancient towns and villages; second, speeding up the development of agricultural industrialization in ancient towns and villages; third, advancing internal “urbanization” of ancient towns and villages and new countryside construction; fourth, strengthening infrastructure building in ancient towns and villages; fifth, providing fair and efficient allocation of resources, and reducing regional differences; sixth, promoting the ability of residents in ancient towns and villages to cope with poverty vulnerability.