paifang

thumb|A decorated paifang in Shanghai A paifang, also known as a pailou, is a traditional style of Chinese architecture, often used in arch or gateway structures.

==Etymology== The word paifang () was originally a collective term for the top two levels of administrative division and subdivisions of ancient Chinese cities. The largest division within a city in ancient China was a fang (), equivalent to a current day ward. Each fang was enclosed by walls or fences, and the gates of these enclosures were shut and guarded every night. Each fang was further divided into several pai (), which is equivalent to a current day (unincorporated) community. Each pai, in turn, contained an area including several hutongs (alleyways).