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Home Travel in China China Travel Guide Travel in Beijing The Disapearing History Ⅰ-- Siheyuan
The Disapearing History Ⅰ-- Siheyuan
Travel in Beijing
altSiheyuan(sì hé yuàn 四合院) in China has a long history. According to the analysis of the existing heritage information, they appeared as a kind of form of construction two thousand years ago. In the course of historical development, Chinese people love siheyuan. Not only palaces, temples, official courtyard, but also residential were widely used.

Siheyuan is Beijing's traditional form of residential. Why are they called siheyuan? This is because the construction in the East and West, North and South siege together.

altBeijing's siheyuan has large, medium and small three different specifications.

The layout of small our-section compound is simple. Generally speaking, they often have three rooms in the north(zhèng fáng 正房), most of who are cut off into two or three parts which are divided into light and dark. There are two wing-rooms(xiāng fáng 厢房) in each side of the east and west. Three rooms (also known as Block back room)(dào zuò fáng 倒座房) are in the south and the eastern side of south is open for the door. The door is often made as a gate tower and there are paths which are made of bricks lead to each room. Old Beijingers, a two or three generations family always lived in such a compound. Parents lived in the main room and the younger generation lived in the wing-rooms. South rooms are normally used to be living room or study.
 

The medium siheyuan has three yards. The main rooms are more than five or seven with small houses besides(ěr fáng 耳房). Main rooms are tall and most of them have gallery. There are three or five wing-rooms on each side and to the south altof the wing-rooms, there’s a wall with a moon gate in the middle which divides the compound into two areas. In the front yard there are one or two wing-rooms on each side. They are used to be kitchen or are lived by servants. The southern rooms near the street from the east are gate, gate house(mén fáng 门房), living room or study, garage.  

Large siheyuan are magnificent. The buildings are tall and there’re always many yards, outside the yards are gardens. They are connected to large-scale construction of residential. None of ordinary people can live in such a compound.
 
The siheyuan in Beijing has right size. The main rooms are full of sunshine in the winter. They are cool in summers and warm in altwinters. Main rooms are larger and more beautiful than any other rooms. Parents live in the main rooms, younger live in the wing-rooms, women live in the inside yard(nèi yuàn 内院) and visitors and manservant live in the outside yard(wài yuàn 外院). It’s the rule of ancient Chinese family life.
 
Go to the ancient time center of Beijing – drum tower(gǔ lóu 鼓楼), you can see an old Beijing. Travel around Houhai(hòu hǎi 后海) by tricycle and have a look at the old hutong(hu tong 胡同). Visit a siheyuan and drink some tea with local Beijingers. You’ll see a traditional life of Beijing.