Solar greenhouses utilize simple facilities to maximize solar energy, commonly used for vegetable cultivation in cold regions without heating for wintering. These facilities for producing fresh vegetables have distinct Chinese characteristics and are a unique facility in our country. The structures of solar greenhouses vary across regions and there are numerous classification methods. By wall material, they mainly include rammed earth greenhouses, brick and stone structures, and composite structures. By the length of the rear roof, they are divided into long rear slope and short rear slope greenhouses. By the shape of the front roof, there are two-folding, three-folding, arch round, and slightly arched styles. By structure, they include bamboo and wood, steel and wood, reinforced concrete, all-steel, all-reinforced concrete, suspension cable, and hot-dip galvanized steel pipe assembly structures.

The front slope is covered with thermal insulation during the night, with the east, west, and north sides being single-sloped plastic greenhouses enclosed by protective walls, collectively known as solar greenhouses. Their prototype is a single-sloped glass greenhouse, where the transparent covering material on the front slope, replaced by plastic film instead of glass, evolves into the early solar greenhouses. The characteristics of solar greenhouses include good thermal insulation, low investment, and energy-saving, making them highly suitable for use in economically underdeveloped rural areas in our country.