The Chinese kang is the most ancient heating system widely used in rural residences in cold regions of China, especially in Northeast China. Even though the outdoor air temperature is very low, the surface temperature of Chinese kang can still rernain above 30 degrees C. However, a comfort indoor thermal environment cannot be achieved by a Chinese kang alone. Passive solar heating techniques can be coupled with the Chinese kang to improve the indoor thermal conditions. In this study, two field surveys had been conducted in three residences in Dalian of Northeast China to investigate the thermal environments of rural residences with a coupled Chinese elevated kang and passive solar collecting wall heating system. Indoor thermal environments were evaluated with parameters of indoor air temperature and relative humidity, surface temperature of the kang plates, air temperature of the upper/lower vents in passive solar wall and human activities, etc. The description of this survey and the methodology of data analysis are described in details in this paper. The survey results objectively provide the preliminary information regarding the indoor thermal environment of new rural energy-saving residences in winter in Northeast China. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.