Youfangping Village is located under the jurisdiction of Jiujianfang Town in Lantian County, facing Yushan across the Ba River. It sits at the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, nestled in the watershed of seventy-two valleys. The village is positioned by the mountains and adjacent to the river basin.
Situated in a mountainous region, Youfangping Village attracts numerous visitors from nearby cities and counties every summer, who come here to escape the heat. However, on weekdays, the village sees few visitors. The resident population mainly consists of elderly or left-behind individuals, resulting in a significant labor shortage.
In 2017, in response to China’s national poverty alleviation initiative, our institute—under the joint leadership of the Xi’an Municipal Government, Lantian County Government, and China Construction Northwest Regional Headquarters—embarked on a project to explore the inheritance and innovative reinterpretation of landscape technology. This effort aimed to support technological poverty alleviation in the Greater Qinling Mountains region by revitalizing local landscapes.
Reasons for Return: Bamboo Shadows and the Warmth of Cooking Smoke
The village’s resources are currently scattered and unorganized, and the traditional architecture and tourism assets remain underutilized. Our research identified that the core issue behind the village’s decline is the population: the lack of motivation and employment leads to a loss of vitality. The primary goal of this project is thus to create reasons for villagers to return home while also evoking nostalgic memories for visitors.
Using the motivation to return as a starting point, the first step is to establish a physical space that facilitates cultural heritage and memory retention—a functional gathering and communication area. We designed a semi-indoor transparent space that creates a defined public area and offers sightlines to guide visitors. The facade of the Changting pavilion employs simple stone, reflecting the primitive and rugged aesthetic of the Qinling Mountains. An escalator on one side connects the pavilion corridor with the fields, forming a spatial structure faithful to traditional lifestyles and agricultural labor.
Reshaping Space: The Gentle Cooking Smoke Beyond the Sparse Forest
The village committee’s original square is the only open area but serves a single purpose and seldom attracts villagers. Additionally, the existing slope presents serious safety concerns.
Our design reimagines the village entrance, integrating it with spaces for social activities. A guiding barrier creates a vibrant entryway to welcome visitors, while village signs are installed to offer clear identification from all directions. New pavilions and corridors provide welcoming spaces for villagers to socialize and reminisce about past traditions.
To address the steep terrain, steps combined with tree ponds have been introduced, transforming the area into a varied and engaging communal space. Retaining some original site features preserves memories and allows for diverse spatial experiences.
▲ Morning Cooking
▲ Changting Pavilion
▲ Xitai Pavilion
The village logo draws inspiration from the common chimney found in Youfangping Village, symbolizing a deep mountain community where cooking smoke curls upward. This image reflects a typical agricultural society and folk customs. The static image represents a century-old home, while the dynamic element is the rising cooking smoke, highlighting the continuity of countless household lights passed down through generations. It embodies the peaceful and warm lifestyle cherished by the community.
Innovative Venue Design: The Mountain Loop Where You Cannot See Me
The village’s two original township roads have a significant elevation difference, making pedestrian movement inconvenient. To address this, a descending walkway was designed as a winding corridor, with guardrails matching the steps for safety and cohesion.
Within the wild and natural surroundings, a sharp and stable BIM-designed structure has been integrated.
A secluded mountain trail links the mountain stream to a platform, creating a pedestrian walkway and viewing deck that offers varied sensory experiences. Living amid the mountains and pausing by the stream provides a tranquil and authentic connection between people and nature.
This exploration and practice in Youfangping Village aims not only to tackle the village’s decline but also to analyze the relationship between village culture and space from the perspectives of humanistic care and sociology. It seeks to reshape solutions that effectively meet the demands of cultural heritage preservation.
Design Drawings:
▲ General Layout
▲ Changting Pavilion Plan
▲ Changting Pavilion Facade
▲ Changting Pavilion Facade
▲ Changting Pavilion Facade
▲ Changting Pavilion Analysis
▲ Changting Pavilion Model
▲ Xitai Pavilion Plan
▲ Xitai Pavilion Facade
▲ Xitai Pavilion Facade
▲ Xitai Pavilion Section
▲ Xitai Pavilion Section
▲ Step Profile
▲ Xitai Pavilion Model
Project Information:
Landscape Design: China Northwest Architectural Design and Research Institute · Architectural Decoration and Environmental Art Engineering Design and Research Institute
Location: Jiujianfang Town, Lantian County, Xi’an City, China
Category: Landscape Design
Landscape Architect: Tong Yang
Design Team: Xia Fei, Liu Yuyun, Ren Ziyan, Li Jiayang, Zhao Xiaojing, Zou Linyu, Zhang Yixin, Guo Wenhao, Wang Jiejue, Cheng Xuan, Wu Yuyao, Zhao Qiang, Gong Deqiang, Lei Sicong, Bai Donghao, Wu Yue, Yan Geng, Yang Jianfei
Building Area: 5,000 square meters
Project Year: 2017
Photographers: Sanshan Imaging, PM Visual System, Tong Yang
Additional Professional Teams: Xu Jingkai, Che Shunli (Structure), Liu Feng (Structure), Liu Tao (Structure), Wang Chen (Mechanical and Electrical)
Landscape Deepening Team: Architectural Decoration and Environmental Art Engineering Design and Research Institute – Art Studio
Landscape Construction: China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Co., Ltd
Project Owners: Xi’an Municipal Government, Northwest Regional Headquarters of China Construction Engineering Corporation (China Construction Silk Road Investment Group)
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