Houses of Bai Ethnic Group are made of earth and timber. The rooms are arranged along the east-west axis, and the front and rear yards are built along the south-north axis. The main gate is at the northeast corner. The main building stands in the west and faces east or stands in the east and faces west. The main building and the side buildings, a sitting room and a screen wall behind the gate constitute a closed courtyard. This is a typical residential house of the Bai ethnic group. A corridor leads to the main building, or there are buildings on three sides with a screen wall behind the gate or four groups of buildings with five courtyards.
There are two kinds of gate tower. The residential houses of the Bai minority people demonstrate their long history and culture, and sophisticated architecture.