Abstract: Using daily meteorological data obtained at 701 stations in China from 1961 to 2017 and according to the central heating standard in China (GB50736-2012), the necessity of central heating over southern China was analyzed based on 5-d moving averaged air temperature and apparent temperature.Based on the heating periods calculated using air temperature data, central heating is necessary for Jiangsu province, northern Anhui province, western Sichuan province, and western Guizhou province.While based on apparent temperature, central heating is necessary for eastern and northern Jiangsu province, Anhui province, eastern and northern Hubei province, central Hu'nan province, central Guizhou province, western Sichuan province, and northern Zhejiang province.In the combination of air temperature and apparent temperature, a scientific basis for solving the winter heating problem in South China can be provided by considering not only original standards but also the impact of meteorological factors such as air humidity.