Liu Jing in the courtyard of her own house. Zou Hong / China Daily

With the price of courtyard houses continually increasing, Liu, 50, has been doing well. Liu has bought and renovated five courtyard houses, and currently rents two as self-catering accommodation for tourists.

Liu worked as a senior executive at a French transport company from 1987 to 1995. After getting a master of business administration degree from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, she started her own construction material export business. Liu recently talked with METRO reporter Lian Mo, about her thriving business career.

METRO: How did you get into the courtyard house renovation business?

Liu: I was a French translator for the government in the 1980s and had many opportunities to accompany foreign visitors to see hutong and courtyard houses. I fell in love with a courtyard house on an evening when I saw a big lamp hanging inside it, shining like a full moon. When you sat in the yard the sky and ground were both yours."

METRO: When did you buy your first courtyard house?

Liu: In 1995 I bought my first courtyard house for 460,000 yuan and lived there for nearly nine years. Later I bought a small courtyard house for a friend for 880,000 yuan without discussing it with him.

He was living in France at the time and other people might have taken it if I had not snapped it up quickly. But he didn't want the house.

So I spent another 250,000 yuan for repairs and eventually sold it to an Italian artist for 1.85 million yuan.

METRO: What are your design principles when renovating a courtyard house?

Liu: For the outside appearance, I follow traditional Chinese architectural design, but borrow lots of European elements for interior decoration in order to make a comfortable living environment.

The handrail ropes, the dormers, the lamps in bathrooms and many other little touches or objects I put in the houses come from Europe. I always take big empty suitcases when I travel to Western Europe and come back with them full of things for my courtyards."

METRO: What kind of courtyard houses do you look for?

Liu: Most courtyard houses on the market are tattered and in terrible condition. The renovation is the magic that turns these Cinderellas into princesses. I only sell or rent my houses to people who respect and understand the beauty of courtyard buildings. I refused a man who wanted to rent a house yesterday.

METRO: What do you plan to do this year? Will you continue to buy and renovate courtyard houses?

Liu: I am not sure yet. It is a distinct possibility that I will stop doing so. Courtyard houses are popular now. But they have many limitations for living. You are not able to comfortably stay in the yard during the winter and summer, for example, in Beijing. You may not get along with your neighbors, who may have a totally different lifestyle from you. The demand for courtyard houses may fade.

METRO: What is the most difficult thing about renovating courtyard houses?

Liu: As courtyard houses are usually connected with those of neighbors, any repairs need agreement from them. I have had many quarrels and negotiations with the neighbors of the courtyards I renovated. I even bought a loudspeaker once to yell back at one of my neighbors.

METRO: What is your suggestion for people who are going to renovate courtyards?

Liu: Find a professional architect. The renovation may take a long time, for various reasons. Be patient and persistent.

METRO: What's your daily life like?

Liu: Except for going to my piano and dance classes, I spend almost all my time on courtyard house renovation.