Category: 建筑Architecture

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  The Qu compound is long. Its courtyards are planned one after another through a series of doorways in a linear direction. From the entrance to the back, there are 5 doorways -- one goes up higher than the other along a 99 meter long path.

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  The doorway is topped with a small scaled-down roof supported by parallels of brackets called 斗拱dougong

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  Doorways to the family's theater. The theater is an important area for family and guest gatherings, so it has to be grand.

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  Less decorative doorways on the sides that lead to other courtyards.

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  Between courtyards are these small doorways. They usually break the monotony of walls everywhere.

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  After passing the pair of stone lions is a square space where one can look up and find a decorated square ceiling.

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  One of the doorways (this one is call 琳碧(Lin Bi) that opens to the main courtyards.

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  Another one of the richly decorated doorways.

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  The heavy duty metal door seems a little inappropiate.

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  Common doorway designs.

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  Another courtyard. The sophisticated doorway has a well-decorated eave supported by painted 斗拱dougongs (brackets). In front is a stone sculpture in the shape of a 元宝, a standard Chinese gold nugget. In the back is a grand 门楼(menlou), a structure consists of a set of columns that supports the 斗拱(brackets) that in turn support the protruding eave. 门楼(menlou) is an essential part of Chinese architecture.

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  The front entrance, which is located on the south side of the rectangular compound. The tourist entrance was around the corner on the east side. The extraordinary and intricate 门楼(doorway architecture) is typical of wealthy homes and is a sign of importance.

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  A residential doorway in a hutong.

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  A residential doorway in a hutong.

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  A residential doorway in a hutong.

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  A residential doorway in a hutong.

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  Gateway to the ceremonial hall. The outline of the arch may be influenced by design patterns of ceramic and bronze vessels or, more likely, from the outline of the lotus.

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  The arch tunnel of the west gate.

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