AsiaObscura has a short piece on the “cave dwellings” (窑洞) of rural Sanxi province, China. An older generation of local farmers have reared their families in these caves, which they praise for their natural temperature-moderation.
“All of the young people have left,” this old man said. “They’ve moved to the city, and to normal houses. But I like it here. It’s warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. I’ve lived here for 60 years.”
60 years? As a farmer, he only looked about 60 years old. He’d probably lived in this cave his whole life. He kept two goats tied up outside his door, and had an incredible collection of corn ears in his yard.
(Thanks, AndyDeemer, via Submitterator!)