Datong is very cold in the fall and winter so the heatable brick beds, or kang in Chinese, are commonly seen in local houses, especially in rural areas. They are usually connected to stoves so that the bed stays warm.

The average height of kangs is about 0.85 meters. The front of the bed is typically painted with pictures. When moving into a new house, a family will usually hire a renowned artisan to paint the bed. Neighbors then visit and would usually comment on the recently painted artwork.

The artisan relies heavily on their reputation.If it is negative, the artisan will lose people’s trust. The family loses face as well. Therefore, many people spare no money in inviting a senior craftsman to paint the kangs of their new house.

Most of the paintings describe local customs and life, such as depictions of A Dream of the Red Mansions and Best Match as well as and the pictures of landscapes, flowers, figures, birds, animals and fish. They all reflect people’s wishes for good luck and happiness.