Peking Courtyard Qianmen

The glazed-tiled courtyard house, majestically situated beside Tiananmen Gate on the edge of the Forbidden City, embraces the century-long prosperity of Dashilan, earning it the title of "a feng shui treasured residence beneath the imperial city." Evolving from the Ming Dynasty Fire God Temple, built by imperial commission, this courtyard sits at the nexus of Beijing's central dragon vein, enjoying for six hundred years the elegant charm of "connecting the hustle and bustle of the market to the south and the auspiciousness of the imperial palace to the north." The imperially commissioned Fire God Temple, once adorned with incense and offerings from emperors, imbues every brick and tile with the auspicious symbolism of "fire and virtue." Modern Peking Opera star Shi Shuanggui chose this spot as his home, further cementing the courtyard's legendary status as a place where his "bronze lute and golden voice resonated throughout the imperial capital." Standing on the bluestone slabs of the courtyard, one can gaze southward at the fluttering banners of Dashilan and northward at the towering Tiananmen Gate, truly embodying the finest architectural style of the capital, "with the imperial court in front and the market behind." Today, the newly renovated Siheyuan retains the traditional design of "four waters flowing into the hall" while also embodying modern elegance within its vermilion-lacquered gates. At dawn, the morning bells of the Forbidden City can be heard; as the lights come on, the shimmering lights of Dashilan are visible. This residence, a fusion of the spiritual charm of temples, the grandeur of opera theaters, and the grandeur of the imperial city, elegantly continues the story of "a Siheyuan, half the history of Beijing."