1、HOTEL HISTORY
The YWCA Garden Hotel is located NO.35 Xitangzi Hutong of Dongcheng District,, which is next to NO.35 Xitangzi Hutong and Ganyu Hutong, was a complete compound in the past and is a typical quadrangle compound with two separates courtyards.
This compound was built in the Qing dynasty.It was said that Zuozongtang，a famous Qing dynasty general once lodged here. During the period of the Republic of China, many celebrities as Fuxuezhai, a Artist from Qing Royal Family and Sunbaoqi，a senior officer，had lived here.
This place was bought by Beijing YWCA's member in 1936 and has been listed as cultural relic sites by the Government in 1990.In accordance with the “Cultural Relics Protection Plan for the Olympics in This Ancient Capital”, Government provided funds to repair this old courtyards In 2005.
After the repair work was completed ,The YWCA Garden Hotel was established and began operation in 2007, under the jurisdiction of Beijing YWCA.
2、BEIJING QUADRANGLE
Quadrangle is a traditional architectural style of Beijing residents. Most quadrangles, standing at the north end and facing the south, are compounds with the north house (the main house), the east and west side house and the south house (the opposite house) around a courtyard. Quadrangle is so named because the houses surround a central courtyard and form a “kou” shape (a Chinese character indicating a square). Quadrangle possesses a well-knit layout, a delicate appearance and an elegant environment. Houses in the four directions are separate units while being connected by a covered corridor. It is popular that multi-generation lives together in a kinship family. They live in their respective rooms in accordance to generation limit and grade difference. It reflects the Chinese traditional culture and folkway for happiness and fortune.
3、ABOUT ZUO ZONGTANG
This was the residence of Zuo Zongtang, a renowned minister in late Qing Dynasty. Zuo Zongtang(1812-1885),born in Xingyin in Hunan, successively held the offices of imperial inspector, governor and grand minister of state, and was a leading figure in the Westernization Movement.
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