| Above, notice that someone has laid down sheets of what looks like paper on the walkway as protection against the dust. Inside the living spaces, everything is neat and clean. That is where the residents put all of their efforts. It is amazing how efficiently they store the items of everyday life. Wardrobes, shelving units, cabinets, and chests under beds make good use of every space. Because Beijing lies in the path of the dust storms from the Gobi desert, dust is a part of living. Thus, everything is kept in closed spaces to keep it clean. Shoes are removed and slippers worn inside to limit the dust, but floors are swept daily and sometimes mopped daily. The outside might not look like much, but inside the people have made homes.
Below, the lattice work above the door functions to let in light to the passageway when the interior doors were closed.
|
