To improve the resilience of an active distribution network in a typhoon, a resilience enhancement method for the network considering both hierarchical load reduction and hierarchical load reduction is proposed. First, the typhoon with strong wind and a rainstorm is considered for its influence on the distribution network. The Batts typhoon wind field model and a rainstorm pressure model is established to implement the quantitative analysis of the distribution network element failure rate. Then the Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the active distribution network fault scenarios in a typhoon, and a system information entropy for scenario selection is used to determine the fault scales. Second, a graded load shedding strategy for the active distribution network is proposed, one which considers both the maximum first-level load survival and the load shedding logic at the same level in the fault islands. Next, four active distribution network resilience evaluation indices are proposed, i.e. comprehensive robustness, first-level load loss speed, loss rate and total load curve area loss ratio. The hybrid GA and PSO algorithm is used to efficiently analyze the distribution network resilience assessment model. Finally, based on the Matlab 2020a simulation platform, an actual distribution network and an IEEE 118-node test system are established to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed active distribution network resilience assessment method considering graded load shedding in a typhoon.