Urban　spatial　identity　is　declining　in　Chinese　cities　overall　due　to　urbanization,　which　is　attracting　increasing　attention　from　the　government.　Research　gaps　include　systematically　comparing　urban　identities　based　on　causes　and　manifestations　in　small　cities.　We　developed　a　framework　for　estimating　spatial　identity　from　the　perspective　of　climate　adaptation,　which　is　based　on　the　relationship　between　regional　climate　and　spatial　form.　Five　small　cities　were　selected　in　China:　Wu’an,　Qingcheng,　Jintang,　Changxing,　and　Lianjiang.　Our　findings　suggest　that　(1)　typical　indicators　include　impervious　surface　rate,　green　coverage　rate,　water　surface　rate,　average　story　number,　and　total　gross　floor　area,　contributing　to　morphological　characteristics　influenced　by　climate　drivers;　(2)　for　the　hot　humid　climate　zones,　the　city　with　the　highest　level　of　spatial　identity　is　in　Jintang,　followed　by　Lianjiang　and　Changxing;　and　for　the　cold　climate　zones,　the　level　of　spatial　identity　in　Qingcheng　was　higher　than　in　Wu’an.　This　can　contribute　to　the　understanding　and　methodology　of　spatial　identity　based　on　climate　adaptation　in　small　cities.　©　2022　by　the　authors.