Eastern Hobbits: More than 30 million people live in caves in China

Answer fast: What is China like? We'll help: it's a huge country, with lots of people, lots of cars, lots of confusion, lots of strange food, lots of buildings and lots of buildings. All big, huge, full. In part, the description is not wrong, but what some people are unaware of is the fact that many people live in caves in China, as if they were drawn-eyed hobbits.

The country with the largest number of inhabitants in the world has large centers like Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, but outside these regions, in places unknown to us, more than 30 million Chinese live in caves, or yaodong, as these places are known. .

House or scenery?

One of the places with lots of hobbit houses is called Shaanxi. Many Chinese built their houses there because of the quality of the soil, ideal for digging.

The architecture of the caves is really similar to the hobbit houses described in Tolkien's works, with small doors, round shapes and almost underground. However, if you think these locals are there because they are all fans of the writer's stories, you are quite mistaken: the caves are cute, but they are chosen as housing not because of their aesthetics but because of the high rental prices in the largest cities. Chinese

economy

While an ordinary apartment can cost more than $ 1, 000 a month, a cave costs the equivalent of $ 30. The advantages are also present for those who care about environmental issues, as this type of house is much less polluting than an apartment - not to mention that the structures are so sturdy that not even earthquakes shake them.

The caves usually have several rooms, beds, electricity, running water and all the resources needed to live well. Those looking for such housing, however, are just older people. What if these buildings existed here in Brazil? Would you live in one of them?