中国十大传统民居

四合院Siheyuan: Traditional Chinese courtyard houseSiheyuan is Beijing's traditional courtyard-style residence. It is called siheyuan because the houses in it are constructed in such a way that the main house, the wing house and the house facing the main house are connected with walls and the whole complex creates an enclosed square courtyard. It has been served hundred years since this kind of architectural form first took shape.窑洞Yaodong：Cave dwellings on Loess PlateauCave dwellings are found all over Northern China including Shanxi, Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan provinces along the Loess Plateau. Having selected a good place, local people would dig a large pit and dig caves at the four sides, a tunnel leading to the ground at one side and a well in the center of the pit and build low walls at the four sides. The courtyard cave dwelling is warm in winter, cool in summer along with being both rain and fireproof. The pits of different families sit close to each other.土楼Tulou: Ancient earthen castles of ChinaCenturies ago, waves of Han emigrants fled south to avoid natural disasters and social unrest in northern China. They settled in the mountains of Fujian and parts of Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces. They called themselves "Kejia,” or guests, and built fortress-like tulou for protection. Within their sturdy walls, the people became self-sufficient and somewhat isolated. If enemies come, the tulou will be strong fortress once the gate is locked. A tulou can accommodate as many as 200 to 800 people.船型屋Boat-shaped house: Residential dwellings of the Li people in Hainan provinceBoat-shaped homes, also called "boat-shaped thatched cottages" are the traditional residential dwellings of the Li people in Hainan province. Although the decoration and modification of the houses may be different, their general shape is that of an inverted boat. With fences woven with coconut, bamboo and mango leaves and roofs made of thatches, coconut and sunflower leaves, the crude materials needed for the boat-shaped houses were readily available. The houses provide shelter from rain and wind, and protect its inhabitants from wild animals. The structure and shape of the houses can withstand the powerful sun, typhoons and storms.蒙古包Mongolian Yurt: Portable house of nomadsThe Mongolian Yurt, called "a vaulted tent" or "felt tent" in ancient times, is a domed pealed tent. The frame of the yurt is a supporting ring, formed by some wooden poles. The yurt's frame is covered with thick felt fastened from outside with ropes. Every yurt has an opening on the top, which provides both light and ventilation, and a wooden door facing south or southeast. The convenient design suits the mobility of the Mongolian people who live on grazing. As more and more Mongolians settle down, yurts are decreasing in number.碉楼Diaolou: Castle-like towerA watchtower, or "Diaolou" built by the Qiang people in Sichuan province. Between 10 and 30 meters high, the watchtowers were normally built beside lower houses. The Qiang ancestors built them to store grain and offer shelter during wars. While in Kaiping city of Guangdong province, about 1,800 castle-like towers dot the landscape. Some of the towers date to the Ming dynasty. Others were constructed in the early 20th century and bear obvious Western influences. They received a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing in 2007.吊脚楼Diaojiaolou: Stilted houses entirely made of woodsDiaojiaolou, or stilted houses, are special residences for Tujia, Miao, Buyi and Dong ethnic groups in Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi and other regions. Sitting high above ground, the design is meant to avoid insects and animals.土掌房Tuzhangfang: traditional residential building of the Yi ethnic groupTuzhangfang, or earthen homes of the Yi ethnic group, look like Tibetan stone-houses but their walls are made of earth beaten hard while under construction. Its flat roof is also used for drying items. Most of these houses are found in central and southeast Yunnan. The house in the photo consists of three to five rooms. The central room has a fire-pit and is the gathering spot both for family members and guests.竹楼Bamboo building: Tropical loft in the rainforestsThe bamboo building of the Dai ethnic group is the stilt style building that takes bamboo as the main construction material. The buildings of this kind are mainly distributed in Yunnan province. The stilt style building is conducive for avoiding insects, snakes and beasts; they are also damp-proof and well ventilated. Besides, the empty room below can be used as a store house or for poultry homes.水乡Water town: House of dreams for allZhouzhuang near Suzhou in Jiangsu province is one of the few places where one can experience the life of a typical Chinese water town. The traditional residences in the town, mostly built in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911), flank the winding waterways. Many of them are well-kept and have preserved their original appearances, with white walls and black-tiled roofs.。