To explore the evidence supporting campus environmental design for physical activity promotion in cold climates, empirical studies based on Theory of Evidence-based Design and Social-ecological Model were conducted in 9 campuses located in the northeast of China. Accordingly, the impacts of different domains of campus environment on students' winter physical activity have been defined by questionnaire surveys. Cross-sectional comparisons between physical activity level in winter and other seasons, and subjective evaluation in 9 campuses have been studied by descriptive statistical analysis; correlations between campus environment elements and students' winter physical activity have been defined by multiple linear regression. The results revealed: both the frequency and amount of physical activity conducted in winter are lower than those in other seasons; the quality of campus environmental elements evaluated in winter is less desirable than in other seasons, specifically the ratings of climate-protection, walkable accessibility, traffic safety and winter activity safety are relatively lower than other elements; in winter, some elements (destination variety, public-transit choice variety, street network connectivity, environmental quality of walking routines, walking-assisted facility presence and crime safety) are positively correlated with the transportation-related physical activity, while some (ice and snow threatens and air pollution) are negatively related with it; there is no obvious correlation between campus environment and recreation-related physical activity. Based on the statistical findings, design indications of campus design and the relative importance of campus environmental elements for physical activity promotion can be inferred reasonably, to be more specific, elements such as campus destinations, walking routines, crime safety, walking-assisted facilities and campus public transit are proved to be more important.