With the help of the local government, the couple bought a house built in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in Yan Village at the end of 2015.

"This house has seen the rise and fall of the Qing empire, and the Nationalists, Communists and modernity all flow past its front door," Gawne said.

At one point the house was home to a wealthy woman who took in orphans at the turn of the 20th century. More recently, it acted as an office for the village commune. Quotations from Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, meant to encourage the workers, still adorn the walls.

"We are preserving the stories of our house and the families who came before us," Liao said.

"Each room is named after a story of its previous owners to ensure the culture of this ancient building is passed down," she said. "We kept all the original early Qing dynasty architecture, woodcarvings and stone."