The siheyuan, or courtyard in Beijing, like the hutong of Beijing, has long been a symbol of the city. As the primary form of civil residence in Beijing, the siheyuan has existed since the Yuan Dynasty when Beijing became the capital city. In the urban design of Dadu (“Great Capital”). civil residences were generally required to be built in a siheyuan style. What connects these courtyards are hutongs and blocks, thus forming an interconnected world. Siheyuans are not isolated small spaces but an integral part of the city landscape.