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Earth kiln: Two brothers live in a traditional yaodong (“kiln cave”), carved into a hillside on the Loess Plateau in central China. The earth-lined walls have good insulating properties, enabling residents to survive cold winters, November 11, 2017. The yaodong is one of the earliest housing types in China, dating back more than 2,000 years. The Loess Plateau in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, is approximately the size of France.The loess soil – fine, mineral-rich, wind-blown silt, accumulated over centuries – is hundreds of meters thick in some places, and the numbers of yaodong run into millions. The loess not only keeps the dwellings warm in winter, but also cool in summer. The brothers, who are both unmarried, have lived in this yaodong for most of their lives. (Photo by Li Huaifeng/World Press Photo)
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