Temperature field evolution plays an essential role in anti-freezing design of frost-penetration tunnels, for which temperature data measured throughout the whole life cycle (100 years) are lacking. The spatial and temporal temperature evolution of a frost-penetration tunnel during the whole life cycle was investigated by using a laboratory test. The test model was designed following some basic fundamental assumptions and similarity principles. The proposed test model was validated using typical cases of the long-term evolution of the temperature fields in cold region tunnels. The evolution features, formation mechanisms and influencing factors were deeply discussed. Experimental results of the model test indicate that a frost-penetration phenomenon occurs in tunnels with positive ground temperature and negative mean annual air temperature. Under negative mean annual air temperature, the freezing circle develops radially towards the surrounding rock and simultaneously develops longitudinally along the tunnel after the tunnel breakthrough. The unfrozen surrounding rock freeze yearly and can develop into permafrost. The primary impact factor of frost penetrations is the positive initial ground temperature and negative mean annual air temperature. The mean annual air temperature has an insignificant effect on the annual temperature amplitude of the surrounding rock, whereas the annual air temperature amplitude has a negligible effect on the mean annual temperature.