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• Thermal conditions of houses during the transition and heating periods were compared. • Mean comfort temperature in transition was 21.8 °C, while it was 22.5 °C during heating. • 80% felt acceptable in the range of 20.5–29.1 °C, despite low temperature in transition. • Dry and hot air caused by heating contributed to increased symptoms and energy use. In China, most houses are generally scheduled for municipal central heating systems in mid-November each year. This study aimed to investigate human responses to different residential thermal environment in cold climate. A field study on thermal comfort and adaptive behavioral adjustment was carried out in 34 buildings in six residential communities in Beijing winter from October to December 2019, comprising both transition period before heating and heating period after heating. Indoor environment variables were obtained through self-recording instruments and human thermal responses were collected by subjective questionnaires. The results demonstrated that the mean comfort temperature in transition was 21.8 °C, and it was 22.5 °C during heating. During the transition and heating periods, there were wide ranges of acceptable temperature, while the preferred temperature was within the range of 23.5–25.0 °C and 22–26 °C, respectively. A reasonable explanation behind these differences might be occupants' psychological and physiological acclimation. Moreover, preferred behavioral adjustments of the occupants to improve comfort during two surveys were also investigated. These results will contribute to the design and operation of rational heating temperature in residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]