A quadrangle in Xijiaomin Lane is the former residence of the great eunuch Li.
Hutongs in Beijing are generally east-west, mainly for retaining people. The courtyard gate in the north of hutong generally opens in the southeast corner of the yard, and the courtyard gate in the south generally opens in the west corner of the yard. Siheyuan is a typical residential form in Beijing.
Generally, quadrangles have two courtyards, and the big ones have three or four courtyards and gardens. The two courtyards generally build a partition wall between the east wing and the west wing, and the outhouse generally houses staff. Luxury hanging doors are generally built between the inner and outer rooms, and there is a shadow wall in the hanging door, which is only opened when there is a major event. In the old society, ladies in large houses were not allowed to go out, and the second door was not allowed, which means that domestic servants were generally not allowed to enter this door. Street gates are relatively simple, and street gates are generally built on the left side of the yard. The last row of main rooms in the big quadrangle is the back building.
Old Beijingers are more particular. For example, they can't plant locust trees in front of the courtyard, because a bug fell from locust trees in the past, commonly known as eating goods. They are worried that passers-by will say, "Why are there so many foodies here?" Because mulberry trees are homophonic with "mourning", they are not planted beside the courtyard. People in Beijing love to plant oleanders in the yard.