In　China,　most　houses　are　generally　scheduled　for　municipal　central　heating　systems　in　mid-November　each　year.　This　study　aimed　to　investigate　human　responses　to　different　residential　thermal　environment　in　cold　climate.　A　field　study　on　thermal　comfort　and　adaptive　behavioral　adjustment　was　carried　out　in　34　buildings　in　six　residential　communities　in　Beijing　winter　from　October　to　December　2019,　comprising　both　transition　period　before　heating　and　heating　period　after　heating.　Indoor　environment　variables　were　obtained　through　self-recording　instruments　and　human　thermal　responses　were　collected　by　subjective　questionnaires.　The　results　demonstrated　that　the　mean　comfort　temperature　in　transition　was　21.8　degrees　C,　and　it　was　22.5　degrees　C　during　heating.　During　the　transition　and　heating　periods,　there　were　wide　ranges　of　acceptable　temperature,　while　the　preferred　temperature　was　within　the　range　of　23.5-　25.0　degrees　C　and　22-26　degrees　C,　respectively.　A　reasonable　explanation　behind　these　differences　might　be　occupants＇　psychological　and　physiological　acclimation.　Moreover,　preferred　behavioral　adjustments　of　the　occupants　to　improve　comfort　during　two　surveys　were　also　investigated.　These　results　will　contribute　to　the　design　and　operation　of　rational　heating　temperature　in　residential　buildings.　(c)　2022　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.