Tujia men are also proficient hunters, trappers, and fishermen. Tujia villages vary considerably in size. They are usually located at the foot of a mountain or on the lower slopes near a water source. Houses are made of wood or a combination of wood, stone, and brick. The tile roofs are constructed in the typical Chinese style.
Houses are usually two stories, with the ground floor serving as the center of daily life.
The central room is where ancestors are enshrined and worshipped. This is also the place for family activities and entertaining guests. The bedrooms and kitchen are built to the sides of the central room. Children sleep on the second story. The stables, pig sty, chicken coops, and toilet are built on the side of the main house.