There has been little research on the application of shading devices in the air gap of the Trombe Wall in China. Experiments on the thermal performance of an advanced Trombe wall with shading in the air gap was conducted in a passive solar house in Dalian. The thermal performance was investigated with regard to the simultaneous temperatures, heat gain and their acquisition of the Trombe wall. By analyzing experimental data, an investigation was carried out on the heat preservation effect by the shading device on a winter night. The theoretical optimum fixed location of the shading in the air gap for minimizing the heat loss was also discussed. Finally, the influence of shading on improving indoor thermal comfort was discussed using the concept of the building envelope response factor (BER) presented earlier by Lukic [The transient house heating condition-the building envelope response factor (BER). Renewable Energy 2003;28(4):523-32]. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.