Report from the Park

Knowing I had a long flight ahead after yesterday’s five-hour train ride, I had the good sense to get out walking right after breakfast. Every day last week walking to my workshop site, I passed this park, but never went in for two good reasons. 1) There wasn’t really much time before or after the workshop. 2) It was generally 96 degrees out. 

 

But now it was a cool 80 and once inside, I was mightily impressed by it. Quite large, bridges over the river, a few Amusement Park areas (Pirates of the Caribbean), lovely willow trees bordering the many paths and most important of all, people! People out at 9:00 am to exercise the body— jogging, working out on some exercise apparatus, dancing in groups and a few (not many, surprisingly here in China, doing Tai Chi.) I happily meandered amongst them all, got a bit lost and worked hard to find my way back to the main gate (I did) and on the way, heard some flutes being played. Of course, I rushed over to where three men where playing long bamboo flutes, introduced myself as a music teacher and asked if I could take a short video. Mostly in gesture and a few common English words. They happily obliged and when I suggested a specific song and sang a bit, they joined right in. 

 

So add these parks and the people in them to the list of things that are working wonderfully well in China. It was the perfect way to start the day. 

(9/1)