Zhu supervises the construction of a lane at a village in Yuanyang county. FU ZHENGHUI/CHINA DAILY
Villagers had been pressing the government for funding to build new houses, so Zhu had to take urgent action to renovate the traditional houses, he said.
Zhu had it written into the contract he signed with the local government that his team should accompany all processes from planning to construction. "Only in this way could I make sure the houses would be well protected," he said.
It took Zhu six hours by car to travel from his home in Kunming to the village, and another 20 minutes to drive along an unpaved road before arriving. However, Zhu has insisted on going there at least once a month.
The county head secured him a traditional house that Zhu could use for three years to renovate as a demonstration. With no government support, he invested 250,000 yuan of his own savings in transforming the house.
To prevent damage to the exterior, he chose to dig down inside and around the house to raise the height of the first floor, transforming it into a bar.
He also set up four rooms on the second floor and a loft.
"I am not doing this for money. If I make any money from the house, I will give all of it to the village," he said.
The demonstration proved to be successful. "Many locals came to witness the renovation work taking place and were convinced that they could also improve their living conditions without demolishing the old houses," he said.
However, Zhu has been left frustrated by the village head, who carried out construction work but failed to follow his planning.
"They think they have better plans for the village and do things that go against my planning when I am absent," Zhu said, adding that he often argues with village leaders, but it gets him nowhere.
In Azheke, the village leaders demolished a small house used for sacrifice to gods and ancestors, which was the last one of its kind in the area, ignoring Zhu's suggestion to preserve it. They also painted power transmission poles around the village green in a color that is not harmonious with the surroundings.
Zhu said he once thought about giving up, but eventually decided to continue his mission. "If what I do can be used as a guideline for the protection of traditional residential houses, in terms of academic research, I have reached my goal," he said. "And if I fail, it proves that my method is not practical and other methods must be discovered."
