Another sound adds to the symphony of this landscape awakening from its slumber: the rhythmic sweeping of brooms in the courtyards of nearby dwellings.
Equally enchanting are the courtyards that separate the buildings.
Workers sweep the squares with willow brooms, and flocks of pigeons swoop across the courtyards or roost on temple rooftops, their fluttering wings blending with the distant hum of traffic and car horns.
Peek into the cement and brick dwellings stacked on top and beside another where old men sit around tables, smoking and playing cards, and children chase each other in the courtyards while mothers are busy with chores.
It is impossible not to feel haunted by the ghosts of the emperor, princesses, valets and concubines that once roamed the hallowed courtyards.
For something more regal, try the imperial hutong courtyards, including those once lived in by royal eunuchs, in the area immediately northeast of Jingshan Park, just north of the Forbidden City.
And he points to the popularity of atriums or courtyards that bring the natural environment into a building as one way the principles of feng shui are manifested in modern architecture.
The converted 18th-century colonial mansion has three courtyards, the original massive stone fireplace in the lounge and Alma Restaurant, which features New Andean cuisine in four different chic salon spaces.
But the vast empty car park outside the Art of War City and its near-deserted courtyards suggest the town is struggling.
Then, head into the French Quarter, with its distinctive balconies and courtyards, and visit the cathedral in Jackson Square, or the vibrant French Market.
But for a fleeting glimpse of the city center from on high, the camera rarely ventures beyond the concrete corridors and prison-like courtyards of housing estates -- far from the glamour of the place where, according to tourism promotions, Wonders Never Cease.
It is performed during spring and autumn ceremonies to worship Meng Chang, the god of music, at weddings and funerals, and during joyful festivities in courtyards, markets and the streets.
When Hogwarts Castle is besieged by Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his hordes of Death Eaters, the brave Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his loathsome nemesis face off, going wand-to-wand on staircases, in dark chambers, and in courtyards, as the magic rays lunge back and forth like lightning bolts.
Before the huge marble and stone campus sprang up - with its vast courtyards and a nod to Arab aesthetic in the arched windows and geometric mosaics - it was largely sand dunes.
With 32 rooms, an excellent restaurant and brand-new spa, the flower-strewn terraces, twisting stairways and verdant courtyards of this Mediterranean villa are strol- ling distance from the main drag.
More than 5, 000 years ago, courtyards were built in the Middle East and China as a protective mechanism both from harsh weather and unfriendly neighbors, says John Reynolds, a professor emeritus of architecture at the University of Oregon.
Courtyards work with any style of home, from modern to classical, but the designs are particularly popular in warmer climates, where courtyards induce airflow.
The preserved village of Bukchon lies between Gyeongbok Palace to the west and Changdeok Palace to the east, where you can wander around restored timber houses and courtyards, and also grab a bite to eat in one of the area's cafes or restaurants.
Apartment buildings are centered around courtyards and oriented to capture the nighttime cooling breezes from the Sacramento delta.
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The Steamboat Springs castle stands 40ft high, but is more compact than the one in Minnesota, with small courtyards and ice tunnels that illuminate at night with light.
The Gettys' palace, with its four courtyards, ancient harem and great green-glazed garden court, still retained much of its 19th-century grandeur, as well as decorative traces from the '20s and '30s.
The second level is less decorated but offers surprising courtyards, more galleries and an infinity of nymphs.
This setting a classic example of why Venice works so well on screen: its dark, atmospheric courtyards and streets are perfectly suited as a stage for the wry Shakespearean dialogue between Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons.
The beautiful 6.5-acre site, which includes medieval courtyards, a chapel, cloister and gardens, lies just behind an unassuming gate just a few metres from Smithfield Market in the heart of the hectic City of London.
Using just snorkels and tape measures they produced a detailed plan of the prehistoric town which consisted of at least 15 separate buildings, courtyards, streets, two chamber tombs and at least 37 graves.
Gravel courtyards with olive trees are bounded by low stone walls in the front.
Imposing white gates and a grand corridor of palm trees lead to the tiled and whitewashed house that rambles over two wings set around cobbled courtyards with splashing fountains.
Ta Prohm's walls, roofs, chambers and courtyards have been sufficiently repaired to stop further deterioration, and the inner sanctuary has been cleared of bushes and thick undergrowth, but the temple has been left in the stranglehold of trees.
Though London was heavily damaged by the bombings of World War II, vestiges of the city's 1800s architecture survive in quaint pubs, spooky alleyways and monkish courtyards ringed with Georgian features.
Trees and plants also play an important role to help induce airflow and provide shade on hotter days in courtyards, and water is a common element because it can help cool the air through evaporation and can have a calming effect on the space.
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