Mine Workers' Dormitory Introduction
During the peak of mining in Houtong, a large number of mining families moved here, and the miners' dormitories, known as "liaozi," were built in the area. In Houtong, there are dormitories such as Neiliaozi, Sanzuo Liao, Wuzuo Liao, Fanzilai, and Meiyuan Cuo, all of which are housing for workers. In the early days, most of the partitions were made of wooden boards, and small holes were opened in the wooden walls for electric lights to serve two households. The kitchen, bathroom, and toilet were also shared. Although the buildings appeared to be two stories high, they were actually divided into three levels inside, with each small window space serving as a home for a family. At that time, thousands of people lived in these miners' dormitories, where children studied, slept, and ate within the limited space under each small window. As the government ordered the closure of the mines one by one, a significant population moved away to live elsewhere, leaving only the original miners' dormitories standing as a testament to the living conditions of the miners for future generations.
