Tourists cross the Peace Threshold, a setup in feng shui to avoid danger. [Photo by Zhu Liya/Yu Xianmin/China Daily]

According to the tradition, a man must always cross a threshold with his left foot first, while a woman must use her right foot.

Also, it is hard to ignore the delicate stone sculptures of the mythical creature tun on either side of the door.

Touching their tongues will rid you of bad luck, and touching their heads could win you a work promotion, locals say.

Chengkan's architecture, mostly dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is also a big draw, with five public buildings and 15 residential houses listed as cultural relics under State protection.

The two most impressive buildings are Xiawu and Yanyi Hall.

Xiawu, which covers about 2,000 square meters, was considered one of the largest private residences during that time.