On December 18, 2023, a M_s6.2 earthquake occurred in Jishishan County, Gansu Province, affecting 118 towns including Dahejia Town, Liuji Town and Shiyuan Town. The areas have a relatively low level of economic development, with widespread and severely damaged brick (earth) and wood structures, resulting a significant number of casualties. In view of the large stock of brick-wood buildings in the region and their local characteristics, this study summarizes the architectural and structural characteristics of double-slope brick-wood structures and single-slope high wall brick-wood structures based on the on-site research, analyzes the typical earthquake damage phenomena and mechanisms, discusses the seismic vulnerabilities of existing brick-wood structures, and proposes the corresponding improvement measures in combination with the actual needs of rural construction. The findings indicate that in the epicentral area, most of the brick-wood structures are moderately damaged or severely damaged, and a few are destroyed. Structures with a mix of brick column and earth wall load-bearing and single-slope high-wall structures suffered more severe damage compared to double-slope brick-wood structures. The damage can be classified into four categories including overall or partial collapse, roof damage, wall damage, and other damage. The primary causes of the damage are identified as irrational structural systems, low mortar strength, poor overall integrity, and the absence of effective seismic construction measures. Consequently, this paper suggests targeted improvement measures to enhance the overall integrity, increase the collapse resistance of the walls, and prevent the collapse of roof components. These measures aim to provide a scientific basis and practical guidance for improving the seismic resilience of rural dwellings and optimizing disaster prevention and mitigation strategies.