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ART & LEISURE: Parks of Amusement
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Parks of Amusement

By Nadia N.

BT 201707 ART LEISURE 01
中国的公园文化大概是世界各类公园中最"独树一帜"的存在了。对于西方人而言,公园通常是慢跑和放松的地方,大家在长椅或草坪上聊聊天度过悠闲时光;而在中国,公园里的活动众多,"百花齐放"——广场舞、太极拳、理发剃须、推拿按摩、相亲下棋、吹拉弹唱,可谓是无所不包。对于一个外国人而言,这可能是很难理解的,但是中国的公园正是有了这些多种多样的活动,才有了它独特的文化传承功能。


和其他国家的公园一样,中国的公园首先是一个供市民活动的场所。太极、武术或"功夫"等中国传统运动项目在这里随处可见。通常大家会穿着宽松的唐装式的运动服装,缓慢地做着动作。由于中国的太极等运动与特别的呼吸方式相关联,有时这样的运动甚至持续数小时。


公园中还有一只健身大军——"广场舞大妈"。这些年龄约在40-60岁左右的以妇女为主的健身群体主要以"广场舞"为健身活动方式,你在中国的各个城市都能轻易找到他们的身影。现在夏季来临,入夜后的空地上更是飘扬着广场舞音乐,不同的广场舞小队在同一个公园中跳着各自的舞步,他们的热情让人印象深刻。


在中国的公园中,还有一处奇景——穿着白大褂的像医生模样打扮的人可以在这里为你掏耳朵、理发、剃须。这些过程完全在公开场合进行,有时也会有不少人看着你这么做。这项特别的"卫生护理"并未完全过时,依旧有不少人热衷于这样的专业服务。


如果你想了解中国老年人的生活情况,来公园准没错。你可以在公园看到带着自己的小孙子小孙女的爷爷奶奶们,或是打太极练武术的老人们,还有在阴凉处在楚河汉界两岸调兵遣将在棋盘上厮杀对阵的大爷们。更有支起桌子打着麻将的和围观的人们。一片小公园,各得其乐。


中国公园最令人意想不到的功能大概是"相亲"了。如果你在天津,一定不会对公园的相亲角感到陌生。说起天津的相亲胜地,中心公园是当之无愧的老大。这里的相亲集会一般在周末,上午9点半之后,家长们开始多起来,10点以后达到最高峰,很多时候,到了下午一两点钟,聚集的人群都不会散去。除此外,阳光广场、南开公园等地也都有相亲角。不少家长将孩子的情况和择偶条件贴出,争取为自己的儿女或孙子孙女寻找到适合的对象。即使子女已经成年,中国家长依然有操不完的心


来到中国,如果你想了解这里的传统文化,那么去天津的公园逛逛一定可以有所收获。

BT 201707 ART LEISURE 02

Rapid pace of life and vast development in China over the past decades changed the country from being very traditional and closed to a modern and diverse place. In China, like anywhere else in the world, technology and innovation enter almost every aspect of people's life. This might be the main reason why nowadays you need to "look for" something associated with traditional Chinese culture. But even in vast and massive cosmopolitan cities, there are places where ancient culture survives through time - Chinese parks.


For Westerners it might seem odd to associate parks, which are normally places for jogging and relaxation, with culture and tradition. But, for Chinese people, parks were places for gatherings and for conducting a variety of activities for centuries.


BT 201707 ART LEISURE 03Firstly, parks are extremely popular among Chinese who enjoy sport. Taichi, Wushu or traditional Kongfu - these and many captivating sports you can observe while taking a walk in a Chinese park. Usually, performers wear loose Chinese styled clothes and look very busy performing some very slow and, sometimes, unexpected movements. It is never a short "work out" and can last for several hours. As Chinese martial arts like Wushu or Taichi gymnastics are based on special method of breathing, you will never see these amazing sportsmen to get out of breath, sweat or struggle - their movements always seem easy even if their leg is behind the head! Sadly, the tradition of daily practicing martial arts and gymnastics is slowly disappearing, as the new generation doesn't put as much effort and value in it as the ones before. Another more modern type of modern Chinese sport that you might see in the park is the infamous group dance performed by 40-60 middle aged women.


This activity grew quite popular all over China and has already gained a name "zombie dance" as it is usually performed during evenings and includes simple movements repeated flawlessly by all the dancers. It is common to see several dancing groups performing at the same time in the same park. Cacophony of many songs playing to accompaniment of each dancing group can probably disturb your quite time in the Chinese park but their diligence and the love for dancing can certainly be found impressive!


BT 201707 ART LEISURE 04Among the strange things you can find in a Chinese park are various "personal hygienists". If before you've seen a person dressed into white robe, you probably thought that it's a doctor who forgot to change into his daily clothes. But, in fact, it's a very important "park inhabitant". In Chinese parks, people in white cloaks can help you to clean your ears or give you a massage. However, if you decide to go for it don't hope for an indoor service - the professional will do everything right there, in the park, with some people watching. While in China, having some people watching what you do is kind of a norm, for a Western person it might be bizarre. Surprisingly, these personal hygienists are never out of work - there are a lot of people willing to use their unique services.


In China, there must be no such problem as organizing activities for elderly to keep their life interesting and fun. Chinese parks are usually the favorite spots of meeting for Chinese grandpas and grandmas. When these lively people are not busy with Taichi or dancing, they often organize mahjong casinos in the shades of big trees. A game of mahjong, being some sort of Chinese poker, is an exciting thing to observe - 4 players making moves while dozens of spectators scream advices and try to take an active part in a game. Mahjong battles bring a lot of fun into everyday park life and make it more colorful.

BT 201707 ART LEISURE 05
The most unexpected thing for foreigners to see in some parks in China is, doubtlessly, marriage markets. No, it's definitely not an outdoor exhibition of wedding dresses or wedding decor but rather a place to find a spouse. As in some Chinese families, getting married before a certain age is rather a big issue and parents can go to a park with their son's/daughter's photo and advertise them as a perfect match for an interested person. The fate of children is, of course, one of the main concerns for the parents (even if the child is far older than 15 years old) and some of them don't hesitate to take an active part in it.


While every person who visits China plans their holidays around famous tourist attractions in the hope to get a taste of Chinese culture, however Chinese parks - big and small - should also become a place to visit as this is where traditions and customs live.


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