As a whole mansion completed upon one design, Honglincuo survived the 200 years that were marked by continuous wars and social unrest in China. Honglincuo escaped the flames of war and natural disasters, and the Huang family prospered and multiplied in this mansion. This has much to do with the unique structure and design of the building.

The water system was very delicately constructed with four major north-south channels and three east-west ones, crisscrossing each other. The water is from the hill behind the building, and it flows past the ancient mansion to the farms nearby. The water can also be used to extinguish fires when the sluice is shut.

Together with devices to contain natural disasters like fires, the defence system can also ward off the invasion of robbers or bandits, guaranteeing the safety of the building for more than two centuries. In the northeast and northwest corners of the mansion, there are observation windows, which are called 'bunny ears' because that is what they resemble from the outside. They serve as today's blockhouses.

 

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