Village revels in former glories

Xiaoqingshan village in Lipu county of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has a long history of defending itself from invaders, leaving it with a fascinating architectural legacy. Li Yang reports.

There is an old Chinese belief that families will prosper if they spend rainy days reading indoors and the rest of the time plowing the fields outdoors. If family members master some form of martial arts and have the ability to defend themselves, then they will become role models for others.

Xiaoqingshan village in Lipu county of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has been a community of such families since its establishment in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).