Located in a picturesque valley east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Taoping village in Lixian county, Sichuan province, is a land of idyllic beauty that boasts the marvelous heritage of one of China's oldest ethnic groups — the Qiang.

The village has one of the best-preserved ancient Qiang architectural complexes with a history of 2,000 years. As part of the village, the Qiang stockaded village is a whole entity formed by 98 interconnected stone houses and two nine-story watchtowers.

Within the complex, 13 crisscrossing alleys form a network of roads. Hidden among them are eight entrances and exits, creating a maze-like stone fortress.

The complex belongs to 1,258 local Qiang people. "Some of them still live in the ancient buildings and are responsible for taking care of them, making the complex a living museum showcasing Qiang culture," says Hu Ling, deputy director of Lixian's culture and tourism bureau.