Understanding　the　thermal　performance　of　the　residential　envelope　is　important　for　optimizing　the　indoor　thermal　environment.　In　this　study,　the　indoor　thermal　environment　and　thermal　performance　of　rural　residences　housing　the　elderly　was　determined　through　field　measurements　in　Qiqihar　in　2017　and　2019.　The　results　revealed　that　the　living　room　temperatures　in　more　than　50%　of　homes　were　below　the　thermal　neutral　temperature　for　the　elderly　(17.32　degrees　C).　Moreover,　the　indoor　thermal　environment　changed　significantly　during　the　day,　with　the　predicted　mean　vote　during　the　day　fluctuating　from　2　to　4　units.　The　air　change　rate　of　living　rooms　in　2017　and　2019　was　0.20-2.20　h(-1)　and　0.15-1.74　h(-1),　respectively.　Residential　ventilation　times　detected　by　an　air-tightness　detector　ranged　from　0.40-1.49　h(-1).　Furthermore,　infrared　thermography　(IRT)　detected　air　leakage　in　the　windows　of　the　all　houses　in　this　study,　as　well　as　thermal　bridges　and　condensation　on　the　exterior　walls　of　several　houses.　The　heat　transfer　coefficient　of　the　exterior　walls　of　all　houses　detected　by　IRT　was　0.25-0.74　W/(m(2)K),　and　a　significant　positive　correlation　was　observed　between　the　heat　transfer　coefficient　of　the　south　wall　and　the　window-to-wall　ratio.　Finally,　the　heat　transfer　coefficient　of　the　external　walls　exhibited　a　negative　but　not　significant　correlation　with　indoor　temperature.　This　study　provides　detailed　data　and　guidance　for　improving　the　indoor　environment　of　rural　houses　in　severe　cold　regions.