Tujia-stilted homes
72 Tujia-homes-pyramid
Zhangjiajie, China
The unique stilted homes with typical Tujia ethnic features present unique and traditional architectural craft skills.
The name “72 Strange Buildings” comes from the ancient legend of “72 Strange Buildings with 9 bows and 18 villages”.
“Strange Buildings” refer to the sky-high stilted buildings used by the Xiangxi ethnic minority people, with many streets snaking through the complex.
There are no 72 buildings. The number 72 represents the concept of “many” in Chinese culture.
More than 36.000 RGBW lights decorate the cornice of the stilted buildings. At night, the entire building complex will be transformed into a colorful wonderland.
Stilted Houses
Founded in the Tang Dynasty, 72 Strange Buildings have been destroyed and reconstructed several times. Their design is inspired by the traditional stilted houses of the Tujia people, which are usually built on hillsides with unique overhanging wooden structures.
This stilted buildings complex is 110 meters high, and has a square and hollowed-out cave, of a height of 38 mtrs, width of 28 mtrs, and depth of 21 mtrs. This cave echoes with Tianmen Cave of Tianmen Mountain National Forest, closeby.
Tianmen Cave is a massive natural archway standing at over 130 meters tall and 50 meters wide, carved out of Tianmen Mountain by natural forces over time. This grand formation is unique for its sheer size and vertical opening, making it one of the world’s highest naturally formed caves.
Visitors can climb the 999 steps leading to the cave, symbolizing good fortune, or take a ride on the world’s longest cable car for a breathtaking ascent.
The cave is also the site of daring aerial stunts and offers panoramic views of Zhangjiajie’s dramatic landscape:
Heaven’s Gate
