The Olympic Park

I live next to one of Beijing's biggest park the Olympic park, and yes the South end is where the Birds Nest and Water Cube are. I however am in the North which means that I am just across the road from the Olympic Forest park. It was 'built' ( can you build a park?) in 2008 and seems like a very Chinese style park. I don't mean the ancient style of tranquility and viewing spots, I mean it is designed to get people around it as quickly as possible and promises much but offers little. It's a big space and the map shows lots of little lakes and rivers, but when you get to them they're mainly dried up. Or so stagnant the smell is the equivalent to the public toilets. I know when I first went it was late October but still the ground is all dusty with very little grass, also most of the lower branches of the trees and many of the shrubs have been picked clean as if by herds of antelope, but it's just people collecting leaves or foraging for berries. This combined with the wide Tarmac paths wending all the way through the park, on which mini cars, 4 person bicycles, and golf cart taxis drive, makes it seem as though they don't really appreciate just being in a truly natural area.

The first time we went Leo wanted to go to the lake to see the swans, but they had been taken out before the water got too cold. I suppose it must freeze over here, because I could swear that they live in the river year round at home. We ended up at this nice little waterfall though. It was tucked away and there weren't any cars driving past which was a nice change! 

The next time we went it was a couple of weeks later and the colours had definitely changed. Everywhere was yellow and orange apart from the odd pine tree. We hired one of those little cars because Leo didn't want to ride his bike, quite ridiculous if you ask me, it defies the point of going to a park in the first place. However we drove to a Chrysanthemum meadow, it was gorgeous. The glowers were really tall, and the blooms were beautiful. 

Then we drove to an Eco-bridge, which connects the two sides of the park over the ring road. Supposedly to allow animals to cross, but it was essentially another road with trees on the verges. As we drove around you can see lots of beautiful ginkgo trees, they turn a real golden colour in the Autumn. 

The bark is meant to have medicinal properties, whilst the leaves are an extraordinary fan shape.

Today however we went kite flying! Now kite flying in China isn't something little kids do with little more than a piece of paper and string. It is very serious, and generally the preserve of old men who sit in one spot with their kite 1 km up in the air. No joke! The one we flew today goes up to 500m, but because of the limited space it only went up 200m. 

I had a go and it's actually a lot harder than I remember. You have to keep tugging on it otherwise it starts falling, no running in a straight line until you run out of space with these kites! 

Leo didn't quite get the hang of it, he just kept wandering around and tangling himself in it, maybe that's why this is only for old men. 

The park also has these little outdoor gyms that you see a lot of in China. They're basically a series of little machines/structures that replicate what you do in the gym, but without any electricity. At the weekend they are taken over by small children using them as an extended playground. During the week however you get the pensioners who head down here every morning, like this little old lady, who looks about 80! 

There are all sorts of things going on from Tai chi to Kung fu classes, and these little Chinese chess tables tucked away. 

It isn't a park layout I'm familiar with, but it is used in similar ways. Definitely Chinese!