Siheyuan

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　　　In the numerous alleys of Beijing, there are many courtyard-style residences enclosed by houses on the east, south, west, and north sides—these are Siheyuans.

　　　　The main gate of a Siheyuan is usually located at the southeast or northwest corner. The northern house in the courtyard is the main room (zhengfang), built on a brick-and-stone platform foundation, larger in scale than the other rooms, and serves as the residence of the house owner. On both sides of the courtyard are the eastern and western wing rooms (xiangfang), which are where the younger generations live. A corridor is built between the main room and the wing rooms for walking and resting. The walls of the Siheyuan and the street-facing houses generally do not have windows facing outward, creating a secluded and tranquil environment within the courtyard.

　　　　Beijing has Siheyuans of various sizes, but regardless of their scale, they all consist of courtyards enclosed by rooms on all four sides. The simplest Siheyuan has only one courtyard, more complex ones may have two or three, while the grand mansions inhabited by wealthy families often consist of several Siheyuans arranged side by side, with a partition wall in between.