The proud history of the 'azure dragon town' endures

A temple for worshipping scholars stands above themain road. [Photos By Du Xiaoguang / For China Daily]

Beyond these public buildings, on either side of the road are shops of local specialties, entrances to some big courtyards, and forts built by local warlords.

The big courtyards, which used to belong to different clans of Wang family, were taken over by some local warlords, landlords and farmers.

Each big courtyard is like a small palace made up of hundreds of rooms, some of which are built for chefs, horsemen, servants, guards and even monks.

The big courtyards are divided into four to five mid-sized courtyards that are arranged one after another, and each mid-sized courtyard is further divided into difference sections by rows of houses.

Most of the buildings were built with grey bricks, black tiles and wood. The screen walls, eaves and ridges are decorated with delicate patterns, which depict scenes from some ancient fables, or lively tile and brick carvings portraying some auspicious animals.

There are five four-storey high blockhouses, including the entrance and the exit, built on the 2.5-kilometer main road in the village, dividing the small city into three sections. This structure was built to prevent fire spreading from one section to the other, and to keep out invaders.

The renovation project mainly focuses on the first two sections, including part of the underground tunnel, which is another must-see of the old village.

The tunnel system, equipped with ventilation facilities, connects every home, and can accommodate the whole population of the village. There are warehouses to store food and water, arsenals, hospitals, living rooms and sniper holes.

The tunnel was dug over a period of 200 years, and was used several times to protect the villagers from local bandits and the invading Japanese armies in the 1940s.

The villagers are very friendly. They are proud of their past, and like to tell the stories of every courtyard.