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A siheyuan (Chinese: 四合院; [sɹ̩̂.xɤ̌.ɥɛ̂n]) is a type of dwelling that was commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing and rural Shanxi. Throughout Chinese history, the siheyuan composition was the basic pattern used for residences, palaces , temples , monasteries , family businesses, and government offices.
The basic structure of Beijing Siheyuan is a courtyard surrounded by houses on four sides. Due to the city's urban layout, most hutongs in Beijing run east-west, resulting in a predominantly north-south orientation for the Siheyuan within them.
Throughout several millennia, architecture was influenced by the development of Chinese thought, narrowing the range of acceptable layouts closer to the mature siheyuan style. [1] As Han Chinese culture spread from out from the Yellow River Valley, dwellings in the outlying regions retained influence from the dwellings of the native cultures. [3]
Han Chinese houses differ from place to place. In Beijing, the whole family traditionally lived together in a large rectangle-shaped house called a siheyuan. Such houses had four rooms at the front – guest room, kitchen, lavatory and servants' quarters. Across large double doors was a wing for the elderly in the family.
City gates, such as Inner Xizhimen Hutong, indicating this hutong is located in the "Xizhimen Nei", or "Xizhimen Within", neighbourhood, which is on the city side of Xizhimen Gate, a gate on the city wall. Markets and businesses, such as Yangshi Hutong (Yangshi literally means sheep market), or Yizi Hutong (a local term for soap is yizi)
Nanluoguxiang was built in the Yuan Dynasty and received its current name during the Qing Dynasty, around 1750.In recent years, the area's hutongs have become a popular tourist destination with restaurants, bars, live music houses, coffee shops, fast food and souvenir shops, as well as some old siheyuan associated with famous historic and literary figures.
In its present form, almost all of the structures are organized in the siheyuan style, with most buildings opening onto enclosed and interconnected courtyards. [12] The Shideyuan [b] (世 德 院, Shìdéyuàn; 1505 x 1521) encloses three lofty rooms on the hilltop, [8] now at the southeast corner of the "inner city". [18]
The mosque consists of a group of buildings which follow the norms of traditional Chinese architecture. It has two courtyard according to the Siheyuan layout. [3] Facilities include a worship hall, the Wangyue Building, Building for Publicising Etiquette, a lecture hall, the Tablet Pavilion, the Twin Pavilions, and bathrooms. [8]