Calm Spirit/Ying Yu Jade China Trip 2006 Tai Chi in Beijing Parks | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beijing
has beautiful parks. Most of them charge a small fee for entrance, but there's
a new one near Tian An Men square that is free. These parks are the best in China,
because they were originally built for the emperors who lived in the Forbidden
City. The landscaping is truly magnificent and this photo shows a pool with stone
dragons carved around it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles
and I planned to go to Zhongshan Park near Tian An Men Square early for tai chi
before we left so Tom and I had an early breakfast. We just sat down to eat when
Charles arrived earlier than planned but had received a phone call from Jackson
in Guangzhou. Since my mobile phone wasn't working in China, I used Charles' to
call Jackson to let him know we arrived and confirm out meeting in Guangzhou that
afternoon, and he had Charles' number, so called him, and Charles found us. It
does get complicated and it makes me mad that I have the technology for communication
but Verizon didn't give me the right information I needed to make it work | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Anyway, after breakfast we went to the park. Charles said that most of the homes in the area were torn down for new construction for the 2008 Olympics and the older people who lived there had to move away, so the once-packed park had fewer people now. There were a few groups and individual people playing tai chi and fan style form. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| There was also an exhibition of Chinese tea tables, and ink tables which was very impressive. They were carved out of stone, very heavy, ornate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Next: Guangzhou | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |