High-belite　calcium　sulphoaluminate　(HB-CSA)　cement　is　a　new　type　of　low-carbon　cement　with　low　shrinkage　characteristics.　Aiming　at　the　problem　that　the　setting　and　hardening　of　HB-CSA　cement　is　difficult　to　control,　the　effects　of　two　retarders,　aminotri　methylenephosphonic　acid　(ATMP)　and　sodium　gluconate　(SG),　on　the　hydration　and　retardation　response　of　HB-CSA　cement　were　investigated.　Each　of　the　retarder　compounded　has　a　different　effect　on　the　early-age　hydrate　assemblage,　as　shown　by　quantitative　X-ray　diffraction,　thermal　conductivity　isothermal　calorimeter,　scanning　electron　microscopy.　The　results　show　that　ATMP　significantly　retards　hydration　of　HB-CSA　cement,　prolongs　the　setting　time,　and　improves　HB-CSA　cement　mid-late　strength,　while　the　retardation　effect　of　SG　is　limited.　The　combination　of　two　retarders　with　PCE　delays　the　hydration　heat　release　rate　differently　to　inhibit　the　early　hydration　product　(ettringite)forming　reaction.　Furthermore,　the　morphology　of　ettringite　is　altered　depending　on　the　type　of　retarder　used.　©　2020　Bulletin　of　the　Chinese　Ceramic　Society　Press.　All　rights　reserved.