Traditional Residential Buildings in Yunnan Province - Lüzigou Village, Shiping

On Saturday morning, I started my journey to Lüzigou by riding a bicycle provided by Shiping Qinghe Inn. The weather was very kind to me, with almost no rain and overcast skies all the way, making the trip quite enjoyable! Lüzigou Village is located in the mountains, connected to the county town by a cement road. I hadn't ridden a bicycle for at least thirty years, and the rugged road left me breathless and drenched in sweat. After crossing mountains and ridges, I finally saw the sign for Lüzigou, and my spirits lifted instantly, with fatigue vanishing along with my good mood. The gate of the Sun Family Courtyard in Lüzigou Village was tightly closed. The path from the road to the courtyard gate was overgrown with weeds, with few visitors. According to local residents, the well-preserved old courtyard is in Xiaogaotian Village. I immediately rode there. Xiaogaotian Village has five courtyards that can serve as representatives, retaining the ancient architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. One courtyard is long locked, with the owner rarely returning. Another is inhabited by an 80-year-old Su family elder, and this courtyard is the best preserved. Located at the highest point of the village, wild grass grows in the gaps of the stone steps in front of the courtyard, contrasting with the partially peeled loess wall nearby, giving a sense of age and history! Villagers say that inside the courtyard are exquisite mouse components and beautiful patterns of Jiang Taigong fishing. Unfortunately, the elder had gone to the town market on Saturday, and the gate was closed. I saw pictures of the mouse components in this courtyard from a friend's photos, almost identical to those seen in Fuying. In the other three courtyards, I was fortunate to witness components of oxen with missing horns and legs, birds with broken wings, flying dragons and graceful bats on the eaves, and vivid calligraphy, flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes, and figures! These courtyards have been effectively protected, which is truly fortunate! These old courtyards with rich Chinese architectural style are not only a local tourism resource but also a transmission and inheritance of traditional culture; they are a concentrated display of local history, economy, politics, culture, painting, architecture, aesthetics, and lifestyle! After eight or nine hours of cycling, seeing the ancient buildings I had been longing for made the fatigue of the journey disappear with the sense of fulfillment! Address: Lüzigou Village, Baxin Town, Shiping County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province Transportation: Self-driving is recommended. If you are not very interested in ancient buildings, renting a car is not recommended.