In　Beijing,　municipal　central　heating　is　normally　scheduled　from　15　November　each　year　and　energy　consumption　for　space　heating　is　growing　rapidly.　This　field　study　aimed　to　investigate　residential　thermal　environment　and　its　effects　on　subjective　thermal　responses　and　behavior　adjustments　in　cold　climate.　The　investigation　was　conducted　in　12　apartment　houses　in　six　communities　in　Beijing　from　October　to　December　2019,　involving　both　transition　period　before　the　space　heating　and　heating　period　after　the　space　heating.　Indoor　environmental　parameters　were　collected　by　self-recording　instruments,　while　heating　equipment,　subjective　evaluations　and　adaptive　behaviors　were　obtained　though　paper　questionnaires.　The　results　demonstrated　that　average　air　temperature　in　bedrooms　of　transition　period　was　19.5　±　1.3　°C,　significantly　lower　than　22.9　±　1.9　°C　in　heating　period.　Moreover,　there　are　large　variations　in　indoor　thermal　environments　among　the　heating　systems/equipment.　During　heating,　the　interior　air　in　houses　was　overheated　(＞24　°C)　and　low　humidity(　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd