Yaodong

Cave Dwelling

Yaodong in Xian source: wikipedia

Yaodong or cave dwellings are unique and common vernacular housings on the loess plateau. They are found in less developed provinces, specifically, Gansu, Shanxi, Henan, and the Hui Autonomous Region of Ningxia, where resource is scarce and transportation is very limited. In fact, the loess plateau has gone through over 8 thousand years of human activity and rural areas have long been barren, rugged and almost deserted. So people from over 2000 years ago has been utilizing loess and the unique terrace to cave their homes.

The caves chambers are rectangular and have and arched roof, which adds to the perception of space. The chambers can be connected to form suites or be used as granary or stables. In places where there is no natural cave, a pit is dug and the arch tunnels are then dug around it, which forms a court yard village underground. Due to lack of coherence in the soil, the caves are cannot be made very large. It is usually 30 feet long and at most about 15 feet wide. The beds are called Kang, which are earth platforms often connected with an earthen ovens at the end; grass can be burnt underneath to heat up the Kang. When the camber is not to deep down, a chimney shaft can be built, but when the cave is deep, the smoke has to go into the room and out through an opening above the door.(Myron 217)

Thought this type of dwellings seems primitive, they conserve a lot of space and energy; the unique design makes them cool in summers and warm in winters. In fact the cave is actually quite comfortable to live in if well furnished and they are indeed gaining increasing popularity. New designs of these cave dwellings are applied to incorporate electricity, water, sewage system, and even solar panels. 

In side of Yaodong

pit court yard

Myron L. Fuller and Frederick G. Clapp. Loess and Rock Dwellings of Shensi, China. Geographical Review , Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr., 1924), pp. 215-226