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The Loess Plateau, situated around the Wei River valley in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces, is of immense importance to Chinese history as one of the earliest centers of Chinese civilization. The plateau was formed by the accumulation of sand and soil by strong winds over millions of years. As a result, the soil here is rich in humus and fertile, suitable for cultivation and digging, and also ideal for cave dwellings.
The first yaodong appeared during the Xia Dynasty, about 4,000 years ago. By the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), these houses began to become more popular. The popularity of yaodong peaked during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).
The most common type of yaodong is the house dug into the slope, on the surface of the plateau. People dig a square hole in the ground, then dig deeper, expanding the house horizontally. Access to these houses is usually through a sloping walkway descending from the ground and underground corridors.
A yaodong typically has a long, vaulted room with a semicircular entrance separated by a wooden door or a screen. The better houses jut out from the mountain and are reinforced with bricks. The houses are often built close together, forming a small village or simply a clan living near each other.
These houses are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. With added utilities like electricity and running water, a three-bedroom house with an en-suite bathroom costs $46,000. Rent for a single-bedroom house without utilities is approximately $30 a month.
Ngoc Anh (According to AmusingPlanet)
