Summary Twelve half‐scale flanged reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall specimens with high‐strength stirrup were tested to failure under cyclic loading. The effects of axial load ratio, aspect ratio, and web confinement on seismic performances were critically examined. All specimens showed an expected flexural‐dominant behavior, with the crushing of the compressed concrete and the buckling of reinforcement at the boundary elements. The axial load ratio was found to have significant effects to the seismic behavior of the shear walls. Higher loading capacity and lower ductility capacity can be achieved with increases in the axial load ratio. The hysteretic curves of the walls were all unsymmetrical, especially in T‐shaped walls. The specimens showed higher strength and stiffness, but lower ductility capacity when the web was in compression. The use of high‐strength stirrups can effetely confine the compressed concrete and postpone bucking of longitudinal rebars in the free web boundary, thus preventing premature failure when web was in compression. The plastic deformation capacity of all the test specimens was all excellent, and the ultimate drift ratio of all specimens greatly exceeded the allowable inter‐story drift ratio value (1/120) of RC shear wall in accordance with the design provisions of Chinese GB50011‐2010 code.