Northwestern Cave Dwellings
There are large areas of loess in the middle reaches of the Yellow River that can be dug into easily and have the characteristic of cold resistance, so cave dwellings dug horizontally on loess cliffs are extensively distributed in provinces such as the Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
The cave dwelling is a residence that is attached to the earth and is fully in tune with the natural ecology. It does not have the typical form or outline found in ordinary buildings. It exhibits an artistic aura - the natural yellow of the earth, its rough texture and its creation of living space in the cave's interior. It is rough, unsophisticated and rich in local flavor. There are three main types of cave dwellings: those built in the cliff, in the earth, and with stone.
Cave dwellings that are built in the cliff were created out of a horizontal cave. They are set at the foot of a hill and along a ditch and undulated in height. Given the thickness of the cave walls, a hole can also be dug above the existing cave to create a "sky cave," which allows sunlight into the cave. The cave can be connected to the surface with a slope, brick steps, or an indoor staircase. Outside the cave dwelling is usually a small courtyard enclosed within a mud wall. It can also be joined with a stone cave dwelling to form a big courtyard house with several sections.
The courtyard cave dwelling is created by digging deep into the ground, forming a sunken courtyard in the ground. Then in the four walls, caves are dug to create rooms. The courtyard cave is linked to the surface by way of a long staircase, which can be placed either within the courtyard or built through the earth.
There are large areas of loess in the middle reaches of the Yellow River that can be dug into easily and have the characteristic of cold resistance, so cave dwellings dug horizontally on loess cliffs are extensively distributed in provinces such as the Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
The cave dwelling is a residence that is attached to the earth and is fully in tune with the natural ecology. It does not have the typical form or outline found in ordinary buildings. It exhibits an artistic aura - the natural yellow of the earth, its rough texture and its creation of living space in the cave's interior. It is rough, unsophisticated and rich in local flavor. There are three main types of cave dwellings: those built in the cliff, in the earth, and with stone.
Cave dwellings that are built in the cliff were created out of a horizontal cave. They are set at the foot of a hill and along a ditch and undulated in height. Given the thickness of the cave walls, a hole can also be dug above the existing cave to create a "sky cave," which allows sunlight into the cave. The cave can be connected to the surface with a slope, brick steps, or an indoor staircase. Outside the cave dwelling is usually a small courtyard enclosed within a mud wall. It can also be joined with a stone cave dwelling to form a big courtyard house with several sections.
The courtyard cave dwelling is created by digging deep into the ground, forming a sunken courtyard in the ground. Then in the four walls, caves are dug to create rooms. The courtyard cave is linked to the surface by way of a long staircase, which can be placed either within the courtyard or built through the earth.
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