A　new　damage-reduction　based　composite　shear　wall　was　proposed.　It　combines　with　three　different　energy　dissipation　units,　which　are　the　CFST　column,　SP　deep　beam　and　RC　strip.　The　CFST　column　is　set　to　be　exposed　outside　or　concealed　inside　the　concrete.　CFST　columns　and　SP　deep　beams　constitutes　the　core　structure.　During　loading,　RC　strips　between　columns　work　with　the　core　structure　so　as　to　reduce　the　damage　and　consume　the　energy.　Four　specimens　with　different　design　parameters,　including　2　shear　walls　with　exposed　CFST　columns　and　2　with　concealed　CFST　columns,　were　tested　under　horizontal　cyclic　loading.　The　load-bearing　capacity,　stiffness,　hysteretic　property,　ductility,　and　failure　characteristic　of　specimens　have　been　analyzed.　Results　show　that　the　deformation　of　this　wall　is　just　between　that　of　the　slotted　shear　wall　and　the　entire　shear　wall.　The　RC　strips　reduce　the　damage　and　the　core　structure　presents　ductile　behavior　during　load.　The　new　wall　is　designed　based　on　damage-reduction　and　it　shows　good　seismic　energy　dissipation　mechanics.　It　can　be　applied　to　the　design　of　shear　wall　in　high-rise　buildings.　©　(2013)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.