The rural revitalization strategy represents a quantum leap in both the theory and practice of rural development in China, and serves as a crucial solution to address the array of challenges facing rural areas. Multi-dimensionally, the rural revitalization strategy sets out the general requirements of “building rural areas with thriving businesses, pleasant living environments, good social civility, effective governance, and prosperity,” which echo the measures of new urbanization: efficient, green, humanistic, well-governed, and inclusive. Specifically, “building rural areas with prosperity” aligns with the development requirement of urban-rural dual structure theory; “building rural areas with thriving businesses” meets the development requirement of the industrial division of labor and integration theory; “building rural areas with pleasant living environments and good social civility” follows the development requirement of sustainable development theory; and “building rural areas with effective governance” tallies with the development requirement of rural governance theory. Urbanization theory, urban-rural dual structure theory, the industrial division of labor and integration theory, sustainable development theory, and rural governance theory serve as crucial theoretical references for the rural revitalization strategy, helping make clear its conceptual underpinnings.