Over twenty million Chinese have their residences in caves, but that is often not a bad deal, according to a December McClatchy Newspapers dispatch from Miaogou Village.
In addition to the obvious advantages (no mortgages), some caves have been in the family for generations and have electrical wiring, hot tubs and cable television, and some are part of communities of connected caves or cavedominiums.
Researchers said that earthen insulation keeps the inside temperature from dropping below about 55 degrees Fahrenheit even in the dead of winter.
On the other hand, living in a cave all year can produce side-effects such as blindness or albino-appearance.
"You must leave cave for at least hour of day or you start to look like white cave cricket with skinny long legs", stated Hu Chin after feeling his way across the room and nearly eating the microphone.
"Also, developing habits of hanging upside down from ceiling. Very bad when using bathroom."
But with today's economy, many say they will continue to co-exist with the granddaddy longlegs, cave salamanders and the occasional bear family.
