This　study　focuses　on　the　characteristics　of　thermal　comfort　for　residential　buildings.　The　survey　was　conducted　in　city　and　rural　areas　residential　building　in　Bayannur　City,　Inner　Mongolia,　a　typical　arid　region　in　China,　where　people　had　different　needs　for　thermal　comfort.　The　study　lasted　four　months,　a　total　of　98　participants　were　tested　to　questionnaires.　At　the　same　time,　combined　with　continuous　environmental　measurement.　Analysis　of　the　data　showed　that　there　was　difference　on　the　thermal　sensation,　participants＇　clothing　insulation,　thermal　preference　and　thermal　acceptance　of　participants　in　different　areas　in　China.　It　was　also　demonstrated　that　although　the　average　air　temperature　of　the　residential　buildings　in　the　two　areas　differed　by　10　℃　nearly,　all　participants　expected　a　warmer　thermal　environment.　City　participants　with　a　variety　of　adaptive　behaviours　can　restore　thermal　comfort　more　easily　than　rural　area　residents.　©　2023　Healthy　Buildings　2023:　Asia　and　Pacific　Rim.　All　rights　reserved.