Do polycentric structures reduce surface urban heat island intensity?

City planners are increasingly captivated by the possibilities of transforming urban spatial structures as an important strategy for reducing heat island intensity. This study addresses the mixed findings of polycentric urban spatial structures on surface urban heat island intensity, using a multiple regression method and pathway analysis for the city region and city proper in China. We found that the polycentric spatial structure can reduce the surface urban heat island intensity at the scale of both the city region and city proper, although the reduction was economically insignificant at the city region scale. Path analysis explained the reduction in surface urban heat island intensity in the city proper: polycentric structures disperse industrial firms to the “rural” areas and centralizes green spaces in the “urban” areas. Our findings may serve as references for policymakers when optimizing urban spatial structures to improve the thermal environment.