600-year-old architectural complex draws prosperity to village

Deep in the mountains of Zhangguying village in Yueyang, Central China's Hunan province, there is a 600-year-old architectural complex where over 1,732 houses are connected under the same roof. It's nickname, "Folk Palace Museum", comes from the unique design.

Locals can hide from the rain and sun while striding among the laneways without an umbrella. It also helps in ventilation and firefighting, said Wang Fei, a villager.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a man named Zhang Guying believed the location had good fengshui, the traditional Chinese study of geomancy, and built the complex. Now most of his descendants still live there.

With an area of 51,000 square meters, the complex has 62 laneways and 206 patios. The whole design was believed to conform to the Chinese philosophy of "keeping harmonious relations between man and nature".

The 2,600 people there who call Zhang their ancestor, who obey the same family precept that has been passed down to the 27th generation — "honoring parents, being kind to the neighborhood and behaving well".

The complex also attracted architectural experts from around the world. "The layout is unique, and the decoration is simple and refined," said Wang Shaozhou, a professor from Tongji University in Shanghai. Its mysterious drainage system and numerous carving paintings show the architectural art and intelligence of ancient Chinese, Wang said.

The village also developed tourism, which has increased the annual per capita income from 3,000 yuan ($465) to about 22,000 yuan. About 1,200 people joined catering, accommodation, specialties, performance and tour guide businesses.