Review article

The cave («yaodun» in Chinese) is a unique form of dwelling located on loessial massifs that is ideally adapted to the natural environment. Caves are widespread in such Chinese provinces as Shaanxi, Shanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, which are characterized with loessial rocks. With the development of society, construction industries began to pay attention to caves, as caves have advantages in the field of energy saving, environmental protection, low cost, etc. It is worth to remember that more than 40 million people in China live in caves today. This article analyzes the location and methods of cave construction on the basis of studying the geographic and geological environment of loess massifs. The authors present the planning, modeling features of space, design characteristics and technologies of building caves of various forms effected by certain natural climatic and cultural conditions. It is found out that caves in loessial areas meet the requirements of ecological construction of modern society. In view of this, it is claimed that caves located on loessial massifs have unquestionable research value as resource-saving objects that improve the ecological environment and living conditions of people. They are also promising objects of construction and operation of facilities for expanding cities on loessial massifs.