Objective To investigate the villagers’ cognitive degree of health knowledge in Gaolan county, Gansu province, so as to explore new methods to promote health education and spread health knowledge in rural areas. Methods Through non-random sampling methods, the questionnaires were distributed to the residents in Shagang village, Manwan village and Yanzi village, and the data were then statistically analyzed by using Epidata 3.1 and Excel 2003 softwares. Results A total of 290 questionnaires were distributed and retrieved with 100% valid rate. Only 23% of the surveyed had physical examination in the last one year; 75% thought they were lack of health knowledge; 92% would like to obtain health knowledge in regular; 86% thought lack of health knowledge was the reason of their or their relatives’ diseases; 74% obtained health knowledge by watching TV; 59% went to their village clinic first when suffering from mild symptoms of common diseases; and only 6% did exercises in their leisure time. Conclusion Most people in rural areas don’t pay enough attention to their health condition and are lack of high-quality health knowledge resources as well as consciousness of physical training. So it is not only necessary to strengthen health education, but also urgent to promote physical and mental health education in rural areas.