Abstract: The loading protocol of quasi-static tests is critical for evaluating the performance of structural members. To investigate the hysteretic behaviour of structural members under wind loads to support the development of PBWD, this study proposes a lateral protocol for steel columns considering the characteristics of wind loads. A finite element model of a high-rise steel structure was established to obtain the structural response under wind loads and the drift ratio history of the structure was analyzed to understand its variation patterns. The drift ratio history was then decomposed into several cycles using rain-flow counting method, and statical analysis was performed on the cycle average and cycle range of the decomposed cycles. The lateral loading protocol for steel columns under wind loading was proposed based on the statistical characteristic of the drift ratio history. The characteristics of the proposed loading protocol of steel columns under wind loading are highly consistent with the response characteristics of actual high-rise steel structures, which can support the evaluation of the performance of high-rise steel buildings under wind loads.