yaodong
Sign in to saveA yaodong (窰 in native Jin Chinese, or 窰洞 yáodòng in Beijing Mandarin) is a particular form of earth shelter dwelling common in the Loess Plateau in China's north. They are generally carved out of a hillside or excavated horizontally from a central "sunken courtyard".
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13 sectionsContents
- Types
- Cliffside Yaodong
- Sunken Yaodong
- Hoop Yaodong
- Origins
- Geographic distribution
- Construction
- Earthquake resilience
- Notable examples
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
A yaodong (窰 in native Jin Chinese, or 窰洞 yáodòng in Beijing Mandarin) is a particular form of earth shelter dwelling common in the Loess Plateau in China's north. They are generally carved out of a hillside or excavated horizontally from a central "sunken courtyard".
The surrounding earth acts as a natural insulator, keeping the interior warm in winter and cool in summer. Consequently, very little heating is required in winter, and in summer, it is as cool as an air-conditioned room.