Understanding Beijing courtyard homes
A siheyuan is a traditional home arranged around an enclosed courtyard. Its layout brings light, air and daily activity into a shared centre while shaping movement, family life and privacy from the street. Some siheyuan have become museums or hotels; others remain private homes. Golden Silk Courtyard is still lived in and welcomes one confirmed group at a time.
In a siheyuan, rooms face inward toward a shared courtyard. The arrangement creates a transition from the street to the household and gives everyday life a common centre. Courtyards vary greatly in age, plan and condition.
At Golden Silk Courtyard, the family introduces the moon gate, screen wall, room arrangement and pomegranate tree through the way they are understood and used at home. These are the family’s explanations, not a claim that every Beijing courtyard carries the same story.
The family repaired this courtyard in 2003 and continued living here. Its earlier story is described carefully through family records and oral history. Today it is neither accommodation nor a public museum.
Visits require confirmation because the courtyard remains a home. Exact arrival details are shared afterward, and private rooms, thresholds, photography and neighbourhood boundaries all deserve care.