This study examined the thermal effects of building's external wall surfaces, using observational data of spatial-temporal distribution of surface temperature, air temperature, and heat flux into and out of external surface. Results indicate that external wall surface temperature and nearby air temperature vary with the change of orien tation, height and season. In general, the external wall surface temperature is lower near t6e ground, and is higher near the roof, than nearby air temperature. But north wall surface temperature is mostly lower than nearby air temperature at the same height; south wall surface temperature during the daytime in December, and west wall surface temperature all day in August, is respectively higher than nearby air temperature. The heat fluxes into and out of external wall surfaces show the differences that exist in the various orientations, heights and seasons. In December,south wall surface at the lower sites emits heat and north wall surface at the higher sites absorbs heat. In April, all extemal wall surfaces, emit heat near the ground and absorb heat near the roof. In August, west wall surface all day emits heat, and other wall surfaces just show the commensurate behavior with that in April.