Human　thermal　adaptability　has　a　significant　impact　on　energy　savings　and　emission　reduction　in　buildings.　To　investigate　the　effect　of　long-term　thermal　history　on　thermal　adaptability,　this　study　explored　the　characteristics　of　indoor　thermal　environments　and　the　differences　in　human　thermal　responses　during　winter　in　northern　and　southern　China.　Furthermore,　the　effects　of　the　region　(heating　patterns),　building　types　and　payment　patterns　on　the　thermal　responses　were　clarified.　Finally,　the　thermal　neutral　temperatures　and　80　%　thermal　acceptable　ranges　were　determined.　The　results　indicate　that　there　are　significant　differences　in　the　indoor　thermal　environments　and　human　thermal　responses　in　different　types　of　buildings　during　winter　(P　＜　0.00).　However,　the　effect　size　of　the　thermal　responses　(d　≥　0.3)　is　lower　than　that　of　the　environmental　parameters　(d　≥　0.7).　This　demonstrates　that　individuals　have　strong　thermal　adaptability.　Due　to　the　higher　indoor　air　temperature　of　district　heating　in　northern　China,　the　northerners　have　a　higher　thermal　neutral　temperature　and　lower　clothing　insulation.　They　are　stricter　in　the　requirements　for　room　temperature　and　weaker　in　thermal　adaptability.　Nevertheless,　the　southerners　can　actively　adapt　to　lower　indoor　temperatures　by　clothing　adjustments,　with　a　wider　acceptable　range　of　indoor　temperatures　and　lower　thermal　neutral　temperatures.　Charging　for　the　actual　heating　usage　can　lower　the　thermal　neutral　temperature　and　boost　the　thermal　satisfaction　rate,　which　is　conducive　to　saving　energy　and　reducing　emissions.　Thus,　these　findings　can　contribute　to　the　promotion　of　the　comfortable　and　sustainable　development　of　built　environments.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd