Yao Dong: Characteristic dwellings of the Loess Plateau
Cave dwelling culture is a unique and time-honored residential culture in the northwest of China, especially on the Loess Plateau. It is not only the crystallization of the wisdom of the local people but also an important part of Chinese culture. It carries rich historical information and folk customs, and is the crystallization of the wisdom and creativity of the local people.
Yaodong are mainly divided into three types: cliff-relying, sunken and independent. The cliff-relying Yaodong are dug horizontally into natural earth cliffs; sunken Yaodong are dug by making a pit on the flat ground and then digging caves in the four walls of the pit; and independent Yaodong are houses built on the flat ground imitating the form of Yaodong.
Yaodong have four major characteristics. First, they are warm in winter and cool in summer. Loess has excellent heat insulation and preservation properties, which keeps Yaodong warm in winter and relatively cool in summer. Second, they are economical and practical. The construction materials of Yaodong are mostly loess and stones, which are low-cost, and the construction process is simple, suitable for local economic conditions. Third, they save land. Most Yaodong are underground or semi-underground buildings, which do not occupy a large amount of surface land and are conducive to saving land resources. Fourth, they are eco-friendly. Yaodong blend in with the natural environment and cause less damage to the ecological environment, in line with the concept of sustainable development.
Yaodong are not only the living quarters of the local people, but also a reflection of their way of life. Inside the Yaodong, various folk cultures and folk arts have been passed down from generation to generation, such as paper-cutting, embroidery, and shadow puppetry. For the local people, Yaodong are not only a physical residence, but also a spiritual refuge. They carry the people's attachment to their hometown and the inheritance of traditional culture.
