Shanxi Courtyard Houses
The courtyard houses of Shanxi or the Shanxi family compounds are located in Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China, approximately 500 km south of Beijing. "These castle-like structures were constructed in the Qing dynasty by local merchants, and offer a glimpse into the architecture and traditional building techniques of the times." == List == Qiao's Courtyard Houses, Qi County Qu's Courtyard Houses, Qi County Wang's Courtyard Houses, Lingshi County Cao's Courtyard Houses, Taigu County Kong Xiangxi's Former Residence, Taigu County == World Heritage Status == The first four of these sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on March 28, 2008, in the Cultural category.