A Chinese friend took me to see this old house in Gaoqiao. I don't think I would have ever figured out that it existed if my friend hadn't brought me there.
The house was built by a man who had grown up in humble circumstances on a farm, but then turned out to be a shrewd businessman who became wealthy. He built this house for his entire family. Four generations lived here at one time.
His farmer parents moved in, and had their own room filled with tools they brought from the farm. His wife, concubine, children, their wives and their children all lived in this one home.
The old Chinese architecture is so charming and beautiful.
I can imagine the old days when there was no electricity and those lanterns would have been lit up at night. It would have been quite romantic.
This is the master's bedroom. Traditionally they didn't have a mattress - just slept on the hard boards.
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