Yellow Mud and Green Tiles Nestled Among the Mountains

Songyang Chenjiapu's architectural style is distinctive, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Overall Layout

• Cliff-dwelling Layout: The village is located on a mountain peak over 800 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing a canyon on one side. The houses are arranged in a tiered, stepped pattern along the mountain slope, with a height difference of over 200 meters, blending seamlessly with the mountain. From a distance, it presents the grandeur of a "Little Potala Palace."

• Complete Street and Alley System: The ancient village retains a complete street and alley system. The old post roads wind through the village, connecting various buildings and providing access in all directions. The roads are mostly paved with bluestone slabs, flanked by mottled earth walls and simple buildings, full of historical charm.

Building Appearance

• Materials and Colors: The buildings are mainly constructed with yellow earth, wooden boards, blue bricks, and stones. The exterior walls are made of specially prepared yellow mud, and the roofs are covered with green tiles. The red and black tiles contrast with the earthen walls, creating a unique color combination. The weathered walls after rain add to the rustic charm.

• Roof Style: The roofs are mostly covered with small green tiles, with relatively gentle slopes and slightly upturned eaves. Some still retain horse-head walls, which not only serve fire prevention purposes but also add layers and aesthetic appeal to the buildings.

Building Structure

• Wooden Frame System: Traditional "chuan dou" wooden frame construction is used, with wooden internal roof frames connected by mortise and tenon joints. This provides strong stability, adapts well to the mountainous environment, offers good earthquake resistance, and reflects the architectural wisdom of ancient people.

• Stone Foundations: Due to the mountainous location, buildings are mostly founded on stone bases made by stacking stones of various sizes. This effectively prevents landslides and rain erosion, ensuring the stability of the buildings.

Function and Space

• Diverse Functions: There are public buildings such as ancestral halls, incense halls, and community temples that serve villagers' worship and social activities. There are also many ancient residences, as well as art bookstores, exquisite guesthouses, craft shops, and coffee cafes converted from old houses, meeting the needs of modern tourism and living.

• Clever Space Utilization: Within limited space, methods such as cantilevering and elevating are used to expand space. For example, some buildings have second floors that cantilever glass canopies, increasing indoor usable area while better accommodating canyon views.

Cultural Integration

• Fusion of Tradition and Modernity: While preserving the traditional architectural style, modern design concepts and functional needs are integrated. For instance, Chenjiapu Commoner Bookstore retains the rammed earth wall exterior but features a stylish and spacious interior design, with open spaces and taller bookshelves, creating a comfortable reading environment.

• Harmony of Nature and Culture: The buildings blend harmoniously with the surrounding mountains, forests, terraced fields, and sea of clouds, forming a beautiful scene of "village in the mountains, houses in the forest," embodying the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.