The Siheyuan is an ancient architectural style believed to have originated in the North China region. It is characterized by a house with four rows surrounding a central garden, but there are also more complex houses with 7-9 gardens. There are different versions of the Siheyuan in different regions, but the most well-known is the Beijing-style Siheyuan, which has a garden and four rows of houses surrounding it in the shape of the Chinese character "mouth" (口).
Siheyuan is considered one of the most expensive types of civil construction in Beijing, and even the rich often "can't afford to buy it". The reason is that the process of urban reconstruction has reduced the number of houses built in this style, in addition to complicated issues of ownership. There are only a few hundred Siheyuan in Beijing that are privately owned and can be bought and sold. Although they do not have the amenities of modern houses, these houses bear a strong Chinese mark.

The courtyards continue to rise in price. Two Courtyards, one in Ya'er Alley near Houhai Lake, is said to be the most expensive courtyard ever sold in Beijing. A Russian billionaire bought it in 2007 for $15.8 million. It is now valued at $215 million after many high-end interior additions.

A close-up of another famous luxurious courtyard believed to belong to Wang Gang, the actor who played Ho Than. The house also has a series of rare antiques.

Inside a room of the house.

The Siheyuan, believed to belong to actress Zhou Xun, is located in central Beijing, Nanluogu Alley, in a protected Siheyuan residential area. The house has no less than 13 rooms and could be worth up to 90 million yuan ($13 million).

Many other famous Siheyuan in China have been preserved. For example, the Wang Family Mansion Complex in Jingsheng Town (140 km from Taiyuan , the capital of Shanxi Province, China) was built in the mid-17th century and covers a total area of 250,000 m2. Some parts of the compound are open to the public.
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