We are now giving an account of residential buildings in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. A typical courtyard there is formed with buildings on four sides, or with buildings on three sides and a wall on the remaining side.

    These areas are densely populated and land is precious. Therefore, courtyards, or tian jing ("heavenly wells") as known to local people, are small and most structures in them are two stories high. With multi-story buildings on all or the rear, left and right sides of it, a tian jing courtyard does look like a well or a chimney, which is meant to prevent the scorching sun from slanting in directly and allows sufficient ventilation. The yard receives water discharged from the rooms. This practice may be linked to the old tradition summarized as "letting no rich water flow into other families' fields". Moreover, the yard is often fitted with exterior fireproof walls. These walls, which are high enough to overlook the buildings in the yard, are whitewashed while the top is built of bluish black tiles, thus forming a pleasant contrast.

    In most cases, the principal building in a tian jing courtyard consists of three rooms, or up to five or even more if the family is rich. The room in the middle, or the principal room, is the largest. It is the venue of family meetings and also serves as the drawing room. Rooms at either side of the principal room are reserved for the head of the family and his eldest son, respectively. The side rooms, rooms that flank the principal building, are for other children or used as storerooms. A large,

rich family may have a large compound consisting of several interconnected tian jing courtyards.

    In Suzhou, "China's Venice", residential structures are often built at the side of rivers that run parallel to streets, or are connected with streets by bridges. The city lies in the center of the Takhu Lake Valley, the "region of lakes and rivers", where water is often diverted into villages or right into courtyards. Boating along these winding rivers through towns and villages in the area will be a wonderful experience, an experience that one will never forget.