Another interesting architectural feature preserved in the center are the projecting walls of the buildings called Niaot'ahsien, which served to keep rain off the walls, and gave birds a safe haven to rest and build nests. This is also expressive of a traditional Chinese virtue: that of harmony with nature.
而古時門檻的高度，也和屋主的權勢成正比。白粉牆上砌成「」字型的「鳥踏線」，一來可防止雨水直接淋下，減少牆面的耗損；再者可讓路過的鳥兒，有個歇腳的地方，充份表現中國人的仁愛精神。