The time-traveler's life

Xue Xiuxian was born and raised in the rural suburbs of Gaoping city in Shanxi province. At one time, the 38-year-old was so bored with village life that she swore to settle down in the big city when she married, but all that changed when she met the man who would later become her husband. When Xue married in 1999, she moved all her belongings from her home village of Qincheng to nearby Lianghu village.

Her son was born a year later, and Xue embarked on the typical the life of a village woman - doing the housework and taking care of her child and fields. Her husband works temporary jobs in nearby factories and construction sites.

Most of the houses in Lianghu were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Although the thick walls and high roofs help the traditional houses retain heat in winter but remain cool in summer, a lack of maintenance and the limited floor space have prompted many young people to abandon the old houses and build new homes on the other side of the village.