Compared to concrete dams, the thin-walled mass concrete structures of ship lock heads and pumping stations are relatively smaller in size. However, their structural forms and stress patterns are more complex, with significant constraints. These structures are constructed using pumped high-performance concrete, which generates more heat and heats up faster during the early stages than regular concrete. As a result, they are more prone to temperature-induced cracks during construction, making crack prevention a significant challenge in quality control. With the upper lock head project at Zongyang shiplock of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe River Diversion Project as a research background, we simulated and assessed the impacts of environment, materials, structure, and temperature control measures by using three-dimensional finite element approach. By analyzing temperature field, stress field, and crack resistance, we developed temperature control measures for the project. Our research identifies some functional areas of the upper lock head structure as more prone to cracking. These areas include the bottom plate, water conveyance gallery, pier wall, mass concrete around the empty box and the hoist room. Implementing a combination of temperature control measures, such as temperature-controlled pouring, water cooling, and surface insulation, with differentiated control strategies, can significantly reduce the risk of cracking. The findings offer valuable reference for crack prevention design in thin-walled structures of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe River Diversion Project.