City parks teem with energy across China, offering a social space for the country’s young and old. Photographer Francisco Little takes us through the scenes of Beijing’s park life.
中国各大城市内的公园充满了生机，为年轻人和老年人提供了社交环境。摄影师Francisco Little 带领读者们一起领略中国公园的魅力。
Public parks are often at the center of social life for many Chinese, where all members of the community, young and old, join to unwind, gossip, socialize, entertain and be entertained. A refuge from the teeming high-rises that surround them, the parks and the sheer delight of park goers as they go about their various activities can be infectious. From all forms of singing and dancing, to shuttle-kicking, badminton and martial arts, parks are often the place where the average citizen can shed their inhibitions. People dress up and dress down; high heels and sports shoes walk side-by-side. Some picnic while others play cards, and children seem to explode with energy in the park’s freedom. Most city parks are well maintained and visitors have a sense of pride in their space. There are noisy chaotic sections as well as secluded areas that offer a peaceful setting to sit on a bench and meditate on life. From young lovers and senior citizens to executives and shop assistants, parks are where all are equal – for a while – before people need to return to the stress and grind of big city life.
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- A park card player keeps his hand well hidden from the other players.
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- A park gateway looking resplendent in a new coat of paint.
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- A park shop assistant looks decidedly uncomfortable in his Qing Dynasty emperor costume. Park visitors can often stores to dress up in traditional clothing.
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- All hands in as park card players reach for their cards.
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- Many ethnic minority groups will perform traditional song and dance for the park community.
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- Many older park goers can be found sining patriotic songs from the PRC’s early years.
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- Many parks have exercise equipment, which serves as a free outdoor gym. This group taunt each other to see who can do the most pull-ups.
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- Master calligraphers enjoy wrtiting on the park walk ways using gigantic brushes and water as ink.
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- Men knit too – and this pensioner makes woollen caps which he sells at the park.
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- Mother’s bring their babies to parks to socialize with other children and to spend some quality time after the hectic week’s work.
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- No Chinese park would be complete without some form of martial arts being practiced. Here, a master peforms Tai Chi.
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- No they’re not praying – this Tibet dance group are warming up before they begin their circular dance routine.
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- Packed closely together the crowd enjoy the singing, out of picture, and sounds of the zhongruan stringed instrument.
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- Park musicians gather each Sunday for impromptu jam sessions always with an appreciative audience. This energetic group plays the erhu.
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- Parks are full of people stretching as shown by this granny who proves the theory of no pain no gain.
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- Peking opera still has a massive following in China and amateur singers often take turns in giving very animated performances.
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- Playing cards is one of the most popular activities in any Beijing park, and this player always dresses for the occasion.
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- Street calligraphy is a labor of love for this park calligrapher as he uses the water to express himself.
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- This park visitor takes himself and his bird for a walk. Many bird owners gather to compare notes and discuss who’s bird is the best.
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- This singer at a park entrance encourages park visitors to join in as he powers up his vocal chords.
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- Traditional bridges straddling canals bring a sense of history to parks and compliment the early morning tranquility before visitors arrive.
Francisco Little is a South African journalist and photographer. Living in Beijing for the past seven years, Little works with Chinese media as a magazine editor and consultant. Little was first attracted to photography during the 1994 independence period in South Africa, where he saw many opportunities for people in the media to capture the painful, yet amazingly peaceful change on film. Since moving to China, he has sought to capture candid images of ordinary life in China. His work is routinely published in Chinese media and recently National Geographic magazine. He uses a Nikon D300.
