Why were some Hubei villages built along high mud riverbanks?

In certain regions of Hubei, particularly near the confluence of the Han and Tangbai rivers, villages are often built along high mud riverbanks because these elevated positions provide safety for the inhabitants during times of flood.1

The province is characterized by a low-lying alluvial plain and a complex network of rivers and lakes, which historically made the area highly susceptible to seasonal flooding. By situating settlements on these higher banks, residents were able to protect their homes and livelihoods from the dramatic fluctuations in water levels that frequently inundated the surrounding lowlands.231