China: How It All – Chinese Parks: May I Have This Dance?

In Chengdu the parks are meeting places for old and young. They drink tea in some tea shop, chat with matiang, or just sit in a shadow and relax. Those are pretty usual things, no one would be surprised by them. In China, however, you have to be prepared for unexpected.

One of those things that you just have to notice is dancing. Be careful people do not dance only in parks but also in different spaces, especially at squares. This gives that kind of dancing, even her name under which it can be found on the Chinese Internet: kuang-chang-wu 广舞, or „a dance on square “ in English. Mostly in early morning and evening, especially when the greatest heats of the day are gone, will bring together various groups of people begins full radio or tape deck, what they brought with them, and put into the dance. Some dance just for fun, others take it as a social event, Dress like prom and dance with incredible seriousness. It often happens that one patch of dance groups will meet more so from different angles, you can hear different types of music, which cut in... an interesting mix if you would.

While some dance, others practice all kinds of reports, especially elderly women. They are roughly in the age of our grandmothers, but often hard to tell - some may be much younger (even around thirty or forty), however, is the vast majority of older age and I do not dare guess ... One of them is usually a "director" and the others by of the model train different dance variations, trains with fans and showing off his age incredible stunts. It often happens that you as a foreigner while curiously checking you out and when you perceive your interest, willing to ask, if you do not want to work out with them.

Another, more sophisticated degree, are then varied theater where actors for the enthusiastic support of the spectators with (often very, very loud) scenes from Chinese history , ancient and recent as well.

In Chinese parks there is just always something to look at. Dancing and theatrical performances, it certainly does not end here. In Chinese parks Chinese parents find a husband or wife for your daughter or your son. You can practice calligraphy on the sidewalk, or you need to see the grandmothers and grandfathers who practice as if they were made of rubber. That, however, does not fit into today's article ...

Text/photo: Hana Bašová