In　this　study,　an　air　layer　structure　is　proposed　for　controlling　the　thermal　environment　in　high　ground　temperature　tunnels,　and　for　meeting　the　environmental　requirements　during　tunnel　construction.　Thermal　response　field　experiments　on　a　mountain　tunnel　equipped　with　an　air　layer　structure　were　conducted　under　tunnel　ventilation　and　heating.　The　variations　in　air　temperature　inside　the　tunnel　and　thermal　response　characteristics　of　the　surrounding　rock　at　the　condition　of　tunnel　with　an　air　layer　structure　were　analyzed.　Moreover,　the　effects　of　the　tunnel　ventilation　and　type　of　air　layer　on　the　thermal　insulation　performance　of　the　air　layer　structure　were　evaluated　in　detail.　Based　on　the　theoretical　analysis,　the　heat　transfer　pattern　of　the　air　layer　structure　was　discriminated.　Good　consistency　was　found　between　the　theoretical　and　experimental　results　for　the　discrimination　of　the　thermal　insulation　performances　of　different　types　of　air　layers.　Finally,　the　heat　transfer　process　of　the　tunnel　with　the　air　layer　structure　was　simulated　and　analyzed　by　establishing　a　numerical　model.　The　results　show　that　the　numerical　results　regarding　the　temperature　fields　within　the　tunnel　are　in　good　agreement　with　the　measured　results,　and　that　a　high　ground　temperature　tunnel　with　an　air　layer　structure　has　a　preferable　thermal　insulation　effect.