Chinese traditional Residental area, Small Siheyuan, Beijing style.
By Andy Hung (andybear)

A siheyuan (Chinese: 四合院; pinyin: sìhéyuàn) is a historical type of residence that was commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing. In English, siheyuan are sometimes referred to as Chinese quadrangles. The name literally means a courtyard surrounded by four buildings.

Throughout Chinese history, the siheyuan composition was the basic pattern used for residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, family businesses and government offices. In ancient times, a spacious siheyuan would be occupied by a single, usually large and extended family, signifying wealth and prosperity. Today, many remaining siheyuan are still used as housing complexes, but many lack modern amenities.

Top view

Chinese traditional Residental area, Small Siheyuan, Beijing style. 

The gate, frony door of the house.
Always not in middle, must be on the size.

The garden in the middle.
In front of the kitchen.

The Chinese style partten

Outside the kitchen.

Top view of the Siheyuan

The garden in the middle.

A pair of stone lions are often placed outside the gate
There is a screen wall (Chinese: 影壁; pinyin: yǐng bì) inside the gate, for privacy; superstition holds that it also protects the house from evil spiri