What is special about Beijing courtyard houses?
Courtyard houses are essential for an understanding of the culture of Beijing. The courtyard house is the traditional form of residence for Beijingers. A house facing south is the most respectable. Since there is only one door leading into the courtyard, the courtyard is a world of its own. Rooms on the four sides within the compound all open their doors toward the yard, indicating a cohesive mentality in the Chinese family. The spacious courtyard is good for planting trees and flowers, as well as for raising birds and gold fish. Some wealthy families also build rockeries and cultivate bonsai to enjoy nature at home.
