do schools, houses and other buildings have central heating that the government turns on in winter like in Beijing and Shenyang?

Yes, of course. Don't worry!

Grace, do you live in KF? If not, I prefer to find the answer from someone actually living there. I lived in China already for 2 years and even though it is extremely cold in the north, the central heating makes it ok. However, I have been told that in the central and southern China there is no such heating - that is why I make to make sure before I go there.

Your concern is necessary. I spent four years in KF university and the school does not have central heating (I was in the old campus). And as I know, some apartments or communities in the city are equiped with heating, but some are not.