Fénxī

Fenxi lies among the hills and ravines of western Shanxi. Near the county town, Shijiagou occupies a sunny slope enclosed by mountains on three sides, with courtyards and cave dwellings arranged to follow the rising ground. The village's wealthy families combined agriculture, commerce and study. From the Qianlong reign onward they built and enlarged residences here, creating a complex of interlocking courtyards, passages and upper storeys adapted to the steep hillside.