BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- 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 theneed 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 formof 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, tranquillity 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 MingDynasty (1368-1644) hero who laid down his own life for the defense of Beijing, then the capital of late Ming Dynasty, a famedcourtyard with a history of hundreds of years, and the residence of some other historical figures, widespread complaints and heateddebate 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 Qinghua 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?"