(Ecns.cn)--Deep in the remote mountains of Yu County, Shanxi Province lies a secret ancient village that is called "Da Pin" by its residents. People from the outside cannot locate the village on any map or through GPS, but villagers here enjoy a safe and sound life, though a bit isolated.
Constructed more than 1,200 years ago, the whole village, covering an area of over 22,000 square meters, consists of 40 courtyards that were all built by small stones and yellow mud. "The village was found by accident on a hillside in 2005," said Gao Feng, deputy director of the Bureau for Cultural Relics and Tour of Yu County.
Previously the village had a population of 360 people, but now only 17 residents remain in their stone houses. "Most young people have left the village to find a job in the county or even go to other cities," said Hu Qiaoshuang, an 82-year-old lady who is the oldest female in the village.
Among the 17 people left behind, the oldest is 88 years old, while the youngest is already over 50. Although many of these people's relatives and children live outside the village, these old people do not plan to leave their home. "We are living an old way of life here. It is environmentally friendly and we grow food ourselves, which is healthier," said Hu.
There is no doctor, drugstore, or place of entertainment in the village, but people here seldom get ill. Often when night falls, the old people like to sit under a tree and chat. For a long time, there have been no outsiders coming into the village. People do not lock their home even at night.
"Since the village was found, many shutterbugs have come to take pictures because the style of the stone houses and the people here form a harmonious picture," said Gao. Besides the tourism value, the village also has some research and cultural value.
