The　ability　of　the　walls　to　adapt　to　climate　change　is　the　key　to　developing　nearly-zero　energy　buildings.　The　concept　of　thermally　adaptive　walls　is　that　the　thermal　performance　of　walls　can　be　dynamically　changed　based　on　cooling/heating　demands　to　adapt　to　the　climate　better　and　achieve　a　higher　level　of　energy　saving.　However,　the　concept　of　thermally　adaptive　walls　has　been　rarely　mentioned.　Research　on　thermal　adaptive　walls　technology　is　in　its　infancy,　mostly　scattered　and　unsystematic.　This　article　briefly　classifies　and　organizes　the　existing　technologies　for　thermally　adaptive　walls.　The　working　principles　and　thermal　performance　of　thermally　adaptive　walls　are　discussed.　Specifically,　phase　change　material　(PCM)　integrated　walls　can　effectively　transfer　the　peak　load　in　time　and　reduce　the　heat　gain/loss　of　buildings.　The　thermal　resistance　(R-value)　of　dynamic　insulation　walls　can　be　adjusted　based　on　the　cooling/heating　demand　to　achieve　the　purpose　of　adapting　to　the　climate.　PCM　integrated　dynamic　insulation　walls　combine　the　advantages　of　the　above　two　and　better　reflect　thermal　adaptability.　Moreover,　the　critical　challenges　in　the　application　of　thermally　adaptive　wall　technologies　are　discussed,　which　highlight　future　research　priorities　for　their　application　in　buildings.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.