Most of the building are high wall with no windows and safety features so as to protect the family member,since the men were not at home for long periods of time because of their trading business. While you are praising the great intelligence of ancient people, you can not imagine how sad the stories behind the high wall. The women have to stayed at home all years and looked after their children.They could not re-married to other man,though they only met their husbands once or twice per year.It is said that when the night was coming,women started to scatter 36 coins to the air then search them in the dark again and again to pass the long lonely night.In other words, the men achieve business success at the cost of Women's freedom.
Now hundreds of thousands of tourists flush into this rural village and spend money there. It seems that it would improve local people's life. In fact,only 8rmb of every 100rmb is belong to the village ,most of the money was put in the pockets of the government and the tour company.Local people just sell some souvenirs or local special to increse their incoming.
There is also one negative effect on local people's life after their village becomes a tour destination.The nice Hui style architectures attract many art students to Hongcun village to practice their drawing. some artists clean their tools in the pond directly that the water is contaminated by paint which may contains lead.In recent year, some local people are dead in unknown disease . This is more or less related to the water pollution.