Yangjiatang village in Zhejiang province has a history of over 350 years. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Save the Ancient Buildings Project, initiated by the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, was officially launched in Songyang county, Zhejiang province on April 14. The foundation plans to invest 40 million yuan for the conservation of local ancient villages in the next two years.

"The earliest building in Shanxiayang village was built in the Qianlong period during the Qing Dynasty," said villager Lu Xiaomin. "It has a history over 200 years."

Shanxiayang village's layout is designed in Hakka style and buildings feature Hui-style and Min-style architecture. Some of the buildings were damaged in the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64) and rebuilt during the Guangxu period at the end of the Qing Dynasty.