As one of the most important components of a construction, the outdoor wall plays a significant role in heat insulation, heat preservation and energy saving. Improving the heat insulation of the outdoor wall is the focus of researchers. This paper reviews the development of the compound outdoor wall and introduces the structure of the compound outdoor wall of wood framed construction. Methods for measuring the thermal characteristics of the compound outdoor wall including the steady and unsteady state thermal characteristics, tests in laboratory and field, and researches on the thermal characteristics of the compound outdoor wall are elaborately reviewed. Researches on the thermal characteristics of the compound outdoor wall will promote the further development of wood framed construction in China. As one of the most important components of a construction, the outdoor wall plays a significant role in heat insulation, heat preservation and energy saving. Improving the heat insulation of the outdoor wall is the focus of researchers. This paper reviews the development of the compound outdoor wall and introduces the structure of the compound outdoor wall of wood framed construction. Methods for measuring the thermal characteristics of the compound outdoor wall including the steady and unsteady state thermal characteristics, tests in laboratory and field, and researches on the thermal characteristics of the compound outdoor wall are elaborately reviewed. Researches on the thermal characteristics of the compound outdoor wall will promote the further development of wood framed construction in China.