Dikeng Underground Courtyard

Insider View

Dikeng Underground Courtyard, also known as villages under the horizon, is a unique residential style in China, even in the world. Nowadays, after the rapid development of all the Chinese cities, the local villagers do not live in the traditional underground courtyard. In 2016, The local government converted the village into a tourist attraction, but still an interesting place.
— Your China Specialists

Unique Experience

see the village under the horizon, the unique residential style in the world.

Basic Information

Official Website: http://www.szdky.cn/
Opening Hours: 8:30 – 17:30
Visiting Time: 1-2 hours
Chinese Name: 地坑院
Address: Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province

Overview – Dikeng Underground Courtyard

Dikeng Underground Courtyard is located in Sanmenxia City, 65 km to the south of Yuncheng City. It is a unique kind of residence in mountainous areas of western Henan Province and southern Shanxi Province, was listed as the national intangible cultural heritage in 2011. In recent years, the local government has been making efforts to protect and promote this folk housing style as a tourist attraction.

As an ancient residential style, the Dikeng Underground courtyard contains a rich culture. It is the only underground ancient residential building in the country and even in the world. It is known as “village under the horizon, a living fossil of human cave-dwelling.” A Chinese saying describes it as “seeing the trees but not the village, entering the village but not the houses, entering the house but not through the door, hearing the sound but not seeing any person.”

The idea came from the traditional underground cellar, warmer in winter and cooler in summer, a very popular and common way in northern China to keep the food and vegetable fresh.

Source: Wikipedia