Whenever Ban Fengbin has time, he visits a yurt he purchased from a local herdsman's family several years ago.

"They barely used it," says the man born and raised in Sonid Right Banner, Xiliin Gol League in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

With more than three decades of yurt-building experience, Ban estimates that this yurt has stood the test of time for over a century and housed at least three generations of herders.

"Although this yurt doesn't conform to modern standards, it serves as a great historical piece that allows us a peek into the past lifestyles of our predecessors," he says.

Due to its long history and poor preservation, the yurt has suffered various damage.