Siheyuan

A siheyuan is a traditional Chinese architectural style characterized by a courtyard enclosed by buildings on all four sides. The form was particularly common across northern China, especially in Beijing and rural Shanxi, and historically served as residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, commercial enterprises and administrative buildings. It originated during the Han Dynasty and reached its peak of popularity during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when a spacious siheyuan housing a single large extended family marked a family's wealth and social status.