Sānráo

Sanrao lies in the hill country of eastern Guangdong, near the border with Fujian. It became the seat of Raoping County, established under the Ming in 1476. Nearby stands Daoyun Lou, a vast octagonal fortified residence built by the Huang lineage. The family began construction in 1477 and completed the building in 1587, after generations of work. Its thick earthen walls enclosed homes arranged around inner courts, offering a large household both living space and protection in a region where raids and local conflicts were feared.