A　tunnel　lining　ground　heat　exchanger　(GHE)　uses　surrounding　rock　as　heat　source　and　transfers　heat　through　absorber　pipes　buried　in　the　tunnel　lining.　In　order　to　evaluate　the　effect　of　ventilation　on　the　thermal　performance　of　tunnel　lining　GHEs,　thermal　response　field　tests　considering　ventilation　were　performed　in　Linchang　tunnel,　and　a　3D　numerical　model　of　tunnel　lining　GHEs　was　built　and　verified　with　the　field　monitoring　data.　The　study　results　show　that　(i)　the　ventilation　has　a　significant　influence　on　the　temperature　field　of　surrounding　rock;　(ii)　the　heat　exchange　rate　rises　exponentially　as　convective　heat　transfer　coefficient　(CHTC)　increases,　and　it　increases　significantly　with　the　decreasing　thickness　of　secondary　lining;　(iii)　the　heat　exchange　rate　presents　a　linear　variation　as　the　inlet　temperature　increases,　the　growth　gradient　of　the　heat　exchange　rate　rises　exponentially　as　the　CHTC　increases　and　decreases　gradually　with　the　running　time　increase.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.