Structural　temperature　is　an　important　loading　that　must　be　considered　during　the　design,　construction,　and　safety　assessment.　The　thermal　action　of　supertall　structures　has　rarely　been　investigated　because　of　insufficient　real　measurement　data,　as　compared　with　that　on　bridges.　In　this　study,　the　thermal　action　of　the　600-m-tall　Canton　Tower　is　investigated　on　the　basis　of　the　comprehensive　long-term　SHM　system　installed　on　the　structure　and　the　numerical　simulation.　First,　the　temperature　model　of　the　entire　structure　is　derived　by　using　the　field　monitoring　and　numerical　heat　transfer　analysis　data.　In　particular,　(i)　the　temperature　difference　between　different　facades　of　the　inner　tube,　(ii)　the　temperature　difference　profile　of　the　outer　tube,　and　(iii)　the　distribution　of　the　temperature　difference　between　the　inner　and　outer　tubes　along　the　structural　height　are　presented　in　detail.　Results　show　that　the　nonuniform　distribution　of　the　temperature　field　between　the　different　components　of　the　structure　is　significant　and　should　be　carefully　considered　in　the　analysis　of　such　a　complex　supertall　structure.　Second,　the　temperature　effects　on　structural　displacement,　stress,　and　internal　forces　consisting　of　(i)　the　tower　top　horizontal　displacement　during　different　seasons,　(ii)　the　stresses　of　different　levels/components,　and　(iii)　the　bending　moments/shear　forces　along　the　structural　height　are　investigated.　The　simulated　results　obtained　by　using　the　global　finite　element　model　of　the　tower　are　verified　through　a　comparison　with　the　measurements.　This　study　provides　first-hand　data　for　the　design　of　supertall　structures　in　the　tropical　region　of　China.　Copyright　(c)　2016　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.