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The Siheyuan , an old Biejing Courtyard, is a building complex formed by four houses around a quadrangular courtyard. The siheyuan is a typical form of ancient Chinese architecture, especially in the north of China.  Siheyuan in Beijing is the most classic. They are designed to make it as comfortable as possible to live in a climate that is at times inhospitable. For instance, the Siheyuan are enclosed and inward facing to protect them from the harsh winter winds and the dust storms of spring. Their design also reflects the traditions of China, following the rules of Feng Shui and the patriarchal, Confucian tenants of order and hierarchy that were so important to society.

Characters: Siheyuans are arranged in rows and vary in size and design according to the social status of the residents. The big Siheyuans of high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants were specially built with roof beams and pillars are beautifully carved and painted, each with a front yard and back yard. The specially built Siheyuans all face the south for get enough sunshine and resist cold wind from the north because the air-conditioning is our of the question in those houses at that time.

Rooms: It is normal for the four rooms to be positioned along the north-south, east-west axes. The room positioned to the north and facing the south is considered the main house and would traditionally have accommodated the head of the family. The rooms adjoining the main house are called “side houses" and were the quarters of the younger generations or less important members of the family. The room that faces north is known as the "opposite house" and would generally be where the servants lived or where the family would gather to relax, eat or study.

Outsides of Siheyuan: The gate to the courtyard is usually at the southeastern corner. Normally, there is a screen-wall inside the gate so that outsiders cannot see directly into the courtyard and to protect the house from evil spirits. Outside the gate of some large Siheyuan, it is common to find a pair of stone lions. The gates are usually painted vermilion and have large copper door rings. All the rooms around the courtyard have large windows facing onto the yard and small windows high up on the back wall facing out onto the street. Some do not even have back windows. Some large compounds have two or more courtyards to house the extended families that were a mark of prosperity in ancient times.

Cultural Background: Siheyuan in hutong is a mirror that reflects the history of Beijing. It still houses many of the city's residents within the second ring road, which marks the limits of old Beijing. However, many of the Siheyuan, which consist of four rooms around a central yard, are being torn down at present, and quite a large proportion of those who have enjoyed courtyard living for generations have now moved to high-rise blocks of flats in new residential areas.

The houses of Siheyuan are usually surrounded by narrow lanes  which are called Hutong (胡同 in Beijing. But in Shanghai Shikumen area, the tightly-packed alleyways are called longtang (弄堂). The differences between the two are strikingly visible. Hutongs are short, while longtangs are taller towering.

The preserved Siheyuan of Beijing mainly scatter in the Hutongs around Shichahai. Other places in China like Shaanxi Province and Shanxi Province also have Siheyuan, which have something common in size, material and style with Old Beijing Courtyard. All these are essential architectural relics of China. When you travel in Beijing, we may help to arrange a traditional Siheyuan boutique hotel for your stay there.