Rural Vitalization Strategy (RVS) is an important measure to promote rural development in China in the new era. Village classification is an important work to promote the effective implementation of the plan for RVS at the village level. It is of great significance to achieve the phased objectives of the national RVS. The National Strategic Planning for Rural Vitalization (2018-2022) puts forward four types of villages: agglomeration and upgrading, suburban integration, characteristic protection, relocation and evacuation, but it does not specify the specific principles and methods for classification. Based on the four types of villages, this study further clarifies their sub-types, and puts forward the corresponding principles and methods for classification. A village classification model is also established, which refines the classification index system of villages from five dimensions: village characteristics, villagers' living conditions, village development and construction, urban-rural links and village functions. Based on the principles, methods and models mentioned above, 102 administrative villages in Yanchi county of Ningxia are classified. Empirical study shows that the principles and methods proposed in this study have practical guiding value for village classification. However, in view of the differences and complexity of village characteristics, some parameters and thresholds need to be set according to the actual situation.