Considering the construction of rural residence as a significant content of constructing the new socialist countryside,problems of present rural housing in energy conservation and comfort level are analyzed.To develop eco-residence in new countryside,improve living conditions of local residents,save energy and reduce carbon emission,responsive capability of natural organisms to climate is introduced into architectural design,and concept of responsive design is analyzed.In view of actual regional and climatic characteristics,it is proposed that responsive design is able to solve many problems of present rural housing,then responsive structures in traditional Chinese dwellings are introduced,such as removable window,latticed wooden ventilation door,courtyard with hinged cover,transom and so on.On this basis,a dwelling unit of row house on suburban plains of Zhengzhou City is taken for a living example of responsive design from the perspectives of flexible corridor and courtyard,controllable natural wind channel,application of plant's responsive characteristics,flexible close building and controllable cavity space,to build comfortable living environments.