With　China＇s　continuing　economic　growth,　the　percentage　of　government　offices　and　large　commercial　buildings　has　increased　tremendously;　thus,　the　impact　of　their　energy　usage　has　grown　drastically.　In　this　survey,　a　database　with　more　than　400　buildings　was　created　and　analyzed.　We　researched　energy　consumption　by　region,　building　type,　building　size　and　vintage,　and　we　determined　the　total　energy　use　and　performed　end　use　breakdowns　of　typical　buildings　in　six　cities　in　southern　China.　The　statistical　analysis　shows　that,　on　average,　the　annual　building　electricity　use　ranged　from　50　to　100kWh/m2　for　office　buildings,　120　to　250kWh/m2　for　shopping　malls　and　hotels,　and　below　40kWh/m2　for　education　facilities.　Building　size　has　no　direct　correlation　with　building　energy　intensity.　Although　modern　commercial　buildings　built　in　the　1990s　and　2000s　did　not　use　more　energy　on　average　than　buildings　built　previously,　the　highest　electricity　intensive　modern　buildings　used　much　more　energy　than　those　built　prior　to　1990.　Commercial　buildings　in　China　used　less　energy　than　buildings　in　equivalent　weather　locations　in　the　US　and　about　the　same　amount　of　energy　as　buildings　in　India.　However,　commercial　buildings　in　China　provide　comparatively　less　thermal　comfort　than　buildings　in　comparable　US　climates.　©　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.