Cave dwelling offers peace, solitude
( 2003-10-30 09:30) (China Daily)
A small TV helps
the Wang family stay in touch with the outside world. [China
Daily] | In 1997 Wang Xianzhi and her family moved
into a cave nestled below a cliff in the Luohan Mountains village of Baishuiyu
in Nanhe Town of Central China's Hubei Province.
This cave
dwelling stays cool in summer and warm in winter. [China
Daily] | Like most other villagers, they used to
live on the mountains. But when Wang happened to find the cave, she immediately
fell in love with the place.
"The cave is an ideal place for living. It is close to the river and the
weather is nice all year round,'' said Wang.
Even in the humid winter, the dwelling is warm and dry. And in summer, the
overhanging lip of the cliff offers cool shade from the scorching sun.
The family built three stone rooms in front of the cave and has led a quiet
life there for seven years.
The family plants
crops and herbs to remain self-sufficient. | Three
of Wang's daughters got married and moved out of the cave. A few years ago, the
eldest died in an accident, leaving behind two teenage daughters of her own.
Now the elderly couple live with their granddaughters, and life for the
family is sometimes a struggle. In addition to raising poultry, Wang and her
husband toil in the fields from dawn to dusk every day.
bout a decade ago, Nanhe was the poorest area in the county, with an average
per capita annual income of 600 yuan (US$72). Most of the villagers were living
in thatched shacks at that time.
With the development of local tourism, more and more villagers became better
off. Some moved down the mountains and settled on the riverbank, making a living
by growing medicinal herbs and offering boat rides to tourists.
But Wang's family opted to keep living in their cave, where conditions
continue to improve. For example, the family now has a small television set on
which to enjoy local programming.
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