When Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the importance of protecting and preserving centuries-old courtyard homes, which are alive with classic beauty and local flavor, during an inspection tour of Beijing streets earlier this month, he put a public face on a problem increasingly worrying Beijing residents and tourists.

While inspecting urban development projects and visiting a number of courtyard homes, the Chinese premier emphasized both the need and urgency of retaining the outstanding features of traditional Beijing in the course of urban construction and noted that "the transformation should proceed in compliance with the coordinated and sustainable development."

The courtyards, popularly known as "siheyuan" or four-sided enclosed yards, are home to many Beijing residents. A typical form of ancient Chinese architecture dating back more than six centuries, it is a compound with row of houses around a square courtyard. With typical classical roofs, delicate corridors and old pomegranate trees, they often appease to and impress visitors with their grace, tranquility and elegance.

However, the courtyards are being menaced when the national capital launched massive projects to tear down dilapidated and unstable buildings and renovate the inner city in the past decades.

With the recent fall of the Temple of Yu Qian, an imperial Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) hero who laid down his own life for the defense of Beijing, then the capital of late Ming Dynasty, a famed courtyard with a history of hundreds of years, and the residence of some other historical figures, widespread complaints and heated debate followed.

More than 1,000 people, including noted experts, public servants, lawyers, engineers and office clerks, have petitioned for legislation on cultural heritage and to make public the list of protected siheyuan.

"It is intolerable," said Chen Zhihua, an established ancient architecture professor with prestigious Tsinghua University, who was startled when he visited the Yu Qian Temple.

Chen found the temple strewn with debris and parts of old furniture, while on the outer wall was inscribed "the city's protected zone".

"This is something beyond comprehension," Chen said. "Land developers seem to be bent on destroying regardless of the government regulation. Have they ever thought that the real culture of Beijing lies right inside these ancient but elegant houses?"  

The Beijing municipal government has listed some 200 ancient courtyards as valuable relics for protection, and hung a "blue plate" over the gate of each courtyard in hopes of rescuing them from destruction. But quite a few city planners and developers have simply ignored them.

"Money talks here," said Huang Jianxin, a local entrepreneur. "So developers dare to do what they want. They gave us some compensation, but that pales when compared to the high profit they gain from the commercial housing to be erected here."

"It doesn't take a finance whiz to know that it is all a real estate scam," chipped in Huang's wife.

At East Yangmaying No. 17 courtyard in western Beijing, Li Changlin, a retired public servant, was compelled to move out but still worried about the future of his courtyard.

"I will leave, but I hope they can keep the house," he said. "This courtyard has a history of over 300 years. It is so well structured and remains intact, with everything from screen walls to corridors. Even the tile was made of fine mud mixed with sesame oil."

Some real estate developers claimed that their projects are component part of the efforts for Beijing to prepare for the 2008 Olympics. But many do not agree.

"We can't afford to lose these. Then what will we have left by 2008?" said Li's wife. "With a bunch of high-rise skyscrapers, how can we say to the world that Beijing is a capital with ancient civilization?"

Hua Xinmin, a Chinese-French, shares many Chinese people's commitment for the rescue of Beijing folk relics.

"This year is tough for Chinese siheyuan. The destruction bears witness to a complete disrespect for beauty. I could not help weeping when seeing the bulldozers working in the alleyways," she said.

Students from the Beijing No. 4 high school wrote in a public letter that "we might turn out to be the last generation to witness the original Beijing. We hate to tell our children about Beijing's Hutongs (alleyways) and siheyuans by showing them around in a museum or a photograph exhibition."

The Beijing municipal government has become aware that more government substantial efforts are required to guard the ancient treasures of the city.

Official sources told Xinhua that a revised plan for the inner city will be worked out shortly and those who continue to disregard protection measures will be penalized.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2003)