A comprehensive examination of the thermal environment characteristics of Lingnan traditional villages not only elucidates their ecological adaptation mechanism but also holds significant implications for the contemporary human settlement environment. This study focuses on 292 traditional Chinese villages selected in Guangdong Province in conjunction with the cultural zoning of the province. Through a three-tiered demonstration of “spatial distribution of traditional villages - thermal environment space - landscape technology”, this research discusses the spatial distribution, thermal environment characteristics, and ecological adaptation mode of these villages. The results show that: (1) The traditional villages of Guangdong exemplify a configuration characterized by “dense in the north and sparse in the south, and concentrated in the periphery”. Hakka villages are established in mountainous regions, preserving their original architectural style; Chaoshan villages are organized around aquatic systems, forming a “village - field - water” complex; Cantonese villages are distributed along the waterway in a belt-like fashion, resulting in a high density of water village settlements; Leizhou villages are predominantly situated in mountain valleys, with their layout adapted to the coastal climate. (2) The thermal environment of the villages shows obvious spatial gradient characteristics. The surface temperature increases from the northern mountainous area of Guangdong to the Pearl River Delta and Leizhou Peninsula, forming a “cold pole-hot pole” pattern. Traditional villages rely on natural factors such as terrain and hydrology to effectively reduce heat load. Chaoshan villages use water systems to cool down, Hakka villages rely on mountain breezes to regulate, and Cantonese villages are affected by urban expansion, with temperatures rising significantly, and the expansion of impermeable surfaces exacerbating the heat island effect. (3) Traditional villages optimize the thermal environment through three types of ecological adaptation modes: mountain wind-guiding type relies on slopes and wind ducts for cooling; farmland humidity-regulating type forms a cold island effect through the farmland-water network system; and water system buffer type uses the waterfront interface to enhance thermal inertia regulation capacity. The study shows that the degree of coupling between the spatial pattern of traditional villages and natural elements determines their thermal environment regulation efficiency. The layout method adapted to local conditions provides a theoretical basis and practical paradigm for climate adaptation planning in humid and hot areas.