By taking advantage of local landscapes, people in Africa and China have preserved many villages with rare and ancient architecture. For example, Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco and Hongcun Village in China both retain the typical architecture of southern Morocco and Hui-style architecture, respectively.

Built in the 8th century, Ait-Ben-Haddou in the Moroccan province of Ouarzazate is a vast fortress surrounded by high defensive walls. This type of traditional Saharan earthen building is known locally as a "ksar." Each building in the village is like a small castle, connected to one other by narrow alleys, forming an impregnable fortress. In 1987, Ait-Ben-Haddou was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has since become a popular tourist destination in Morocco.

Founded in the 12th century, Hongcun Village in east China's Anhui Province still retains more than 140 well-preserved Hui-style buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The layout and architectural forms of the buildings in the village represent the ancient Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature. In 2000, Hongcun was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Xidi, another ancient village in southern Anhui.