Where do millions of Chinese live and how much does a modern cave cost?

Traveling through the northern part of China, the fact that the locals still live in caves is striking. It is noteworthy that such peculiar houses appeared about four thousand years ago, when the Chinese nation was born. People cut down their homes on the slopes of mountains and hills.

As the guides said, the most popular yaodongs (this is what these cave houses are called) became during the reign of the Qing and Ming dynasties. The territory for the construction of such a dwelling, namely the Loess Plateau, was not chosen by chance: the fertile soil in these parts initially attracted farmers.

Most often, yaoduns were carved right on the slopes at a depth of six to eleven meters and had a square or rectangular shape. However, there were also more unusual examples, when the main courtyard of the dwelling was dug vertically into the ground, and several "rooms" extended from it right in the ground. Now the wealthy Chinese reinforce the house with bricks, and cover the entrance with a wooden door. Judging by the scraps of fabric serving instead of the door, one can guess that the poor are living there.

Currently, more than forty million local residents live in the cave houses. If the family is large, then several yaodongs are combined into one multi-level village. Today's dwellings, carved into the mountain, are more landscaped than they were many years ago. Some of them are equipped with electricity and communications. Despite the sweltering heat, the air temperature is quite comfortable for living in the cave houses.

We were shown a modern well-appointed yaodong, which consists of 3 rooms and has a bath. Today such an "apartment" can be bought for 45 thousand dollars. If travelers wish to feel the spirit of the primitive way of life, you can remove the yaodong. The monthly cost of living in the cave starts at $ 30. In 2011, these ethnic structures were officially recognized as China's intangible heritage.

Visits to the cave houses in China have left an indelible impression on this unique country. Most likely, gradually yaoduns will become a local attraction, because this is part of the history of China, and the Chinese are very reverent about it. Most likely, a stream of curious tourists is expected very soon to explore these original structures that arose even when the nation was born, and are being built by local residents to this day since.

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