Preserving Qiang heritage

Located in a picturesque valley east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Taoping village in Lixian county, Aba Tibetan-Qiang autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, is a land of idyllic beauty that boasts the heritage of one of China's oldest ethnic groups — the Qiang.

The village has one of the best-preserved ancient Qiang architectural complexes with a history of 2,000 years. The complex is a whole entity formed by 98 interconnected stone houses and two nine-story watchtowers.

Within the complex, 13 crisscrossing alleys form a network of roads. Hidden among them are eight entrances and exits, creating a mazelike stone fortress.