Swallows make 42 nests at a rural shop in Yantai, Shandong Province

An ordinary rural store in Yantai, East China's Shandong Province, has gone viral online not for its retro decor, but for the 42 swallow nests dotting its ceiling. The owner shared that for over two decades, these little swallows have chirped loudly each morning to wake them up, and flutter back to their respective nests independently by evening.

According to Wang, the store owner, the nests have accumulated over more than 20 years, now totaling 42 in all. 

Over the years, Wang's family and the little swallows have grown close. "They're like friends to us," Wang said, adding that "We coexist in perfect harmony."

At dawn, the swallows chirp like a lively alarm clock, calling the family to open the shop so they can hunt for food. By nightfall, each swallow returns to its nest before the doors close.

"Years ago, there were even more—up to 60 or 70 nests," Wang said, noting how rare such a sight is in the area. "One or two nests are common, but this many are almost unheard of."

Netizens marveled. "This isn't a store at all — it's a swallows' hotel." Another man who discovered the store surprised, "It's incredible!" 

When concerns about cleanliness arose, Wang reassured that these swallows are intelligent and relatively clean. "Even if droppings fall occasionally, we just clean it up — it's no trouble," he said. "We've developed real affection for these little birds."