Tunnel　lining　ground　heat　exchangers　(GHEs)　in　this　paper　have　advantages　such　as　not　requiring　extra　space,　a　low　construction　cost,　and　more　efficient　in　heat　exchange,　offering　a　solution　to　the　utilization　of　geothermal　energy　in　central　urban　areas.　Ventilation　and　groundwater　flow　are　two　important　factors　that　significantly　affect　the　underground　temperature　field.　Laboratory　model　tests　were　carried　out　to　evaluate　the　coupling　effect　of　ventilation　and　groundwater　flow　on　the　thermal　performance　of　tunnel　lining　GHEs.　The　test　results　show　that　(i)　ventilation　enhances　the　heat　exchange　process　between　the　GHEs　and　the　surrounding　rock;　(ii)　the　depth　to　which　the　GHEs　influence　the　surrounding　rock　temperature　field　in　the　downstream　of　the　groundwater　flow　field　is　2.6　times　higher　than　that　in　the　upstream,　and　the　ventilation　and　groundwater　flow　aggravate　uneven　distribution　of　the　temperature　field　of　the　surrounding　rock,　so　the　heat　exchange　pipes　should　be　installed　in　the　upstream　of　the　groundwater　flow　field;　(iii)　the　coupling　heat　transfer　between　air　and　lining　should　be　taken　into　consideration　when　the　heat　exchange　rate　of　the　heat　exchange　pipe　is　calculated.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.