Courtyard is a historical type of residence. It was commonly found throughout China, most famous in Beijing. In ancient times, a courtyard would be occupied by a single large family. Today, many remaining courtyards are still used as houses, but most lack modern living facilities. Courtyards date back to as early as the Western Zhou Period, with a history of over 2,000 years. They exhibit outstanding and fundamental characteristics of Chinese architecture. Courtyard also serves as a cultural symbol of Beijing and a window into old ways of life.
四合院（courtyard）是一种历史类型住宅。它在中国很常见，最著名的则是在北京。在古代，一座四合院住着一个单一的大家庭。今天，许多现存的四合院还用作住房，但大都缺乏现代生活设施。四合院最早可以追溯到西周时期（the Western Zhou Period），至今已有2000多年的历史。它们表现出中国建筑的优秀和基本特征。四合院还是北京的一个文化象征，也是探索古老生活方式的一个窗口。
