The mud houses in rural southern Shaanxi are a type of local traditional architecture, which are usually built using local natural materials such as loess, wood, stone, etc., combined with traditional building techniques. These earthen houses have good thermal insulation performance and can adapt to the climatic characteristics of southern Shaanxi, warm in winter and cool in summer.
The general structure of an earthen house includes earthen walls, timber-framed roofs, and loess or wooden floors. The construction of earthen walls is usually compacted with loess mixed with organic matter such as straw and wheat straw to make it have a certain strength and stability. This way of building is not only material-efficient, but also environmentally friendly and in line with the principles of sustainable development.
However, with the development of the economy and the improvement of people's living standards, many residents in rural areas of southern Shaanxi began to build more modern and comfortable houses, and earthen houses were gradually eliminated by young people. New homes are usually made of brick and concrete or brick and timber with better facilities and a more comfortable living environment.
Despite this, earthen houses still exist in a large area in rural areas of southern Shaanxi, especially in some remote mountainous areas, and due to the limitations of economic conditions and geographical environment, earthen houses are still an important housing choice for local residents. In addition, some earthen houses are also considered cultural heritage and have certain historical and cultural value.