Courtyard houses of north China, with Beijing's Siheyuan (courtyard with houses on all sides), being the highest level and most typical, are the outstanding representatives of traditional residences of China's Han nationality. Beijing-s Siheyuan, seated in the north of the compound and facing south, mostly consist of inner and outer yards. The Outer yard is horizontal and long; the main door opens to the southeast corner, conducive to maintaining the privacy of the residence and increasing spatial change.

After entering the main door and turning westward into the outer yard, one finds there are guest rooms, servant's room, a kitchen and toilet. Going northward from the Outer yard through an exquisitely shaped and quite beautiful floral-pendant gate, one enters the square, spacious main yard. The principal room in the north is the largest, erected with the tablets of "heaven, earth, monarch, kinsfolk and teacher", which is for holding family ceremonies and receiving distinguished guest.

The left and right sides of the principal room are linked to aisles inhabited by family elders. In front of the aisle there is a small corner yard which is very quiet and is often used as a study- Both sides of the main yard have a wing room serving as living rooms for the younger generations. Both the principal room and the wing rooms face the yards which have front Porches. Verandahs are used to link the floral-pendant gate and the three houses, so that one can move along or sit in them to enjoy the flowers and trees in the courtyard. Behind the principal room, sometimes, there is a long row of "Hou Zhao Fang (back illuminated room)" serving either as a living room or utility room.