Chaoyang Park is wild -- like if you put Coney Island in Central Park and filled in the extra space with the flora and fauna of southern coastal New Jersey. Apparently it used to be the grounds of the Prince's Palace back when China had princes, but -- unlike the Forbidden City, which formerly housed the Emperor -- the park retains almost none of its royal history today. Instead one finds a rather eclectic collection of amusements: a section of roller coasters and zip lines, a "beach theme park," a cherry tree orchard, soccer fields and basketball courts, the Chaoyang Art Planning museum (what?), some deliberately cartoonish statues of Mozart and Beethoven, a big lake with paddle-boats for rent, and this delightfully out-of-place ladybug bathroom facility:
And I didn't even come close to seeing it all. The park caters mainly to families with small children and is open every day of the year, but there's a good chance it's open at night, too, because everyone seemed to be setting up camping tents for some reason. It's funny that I wouldn't think twice if someone told me they were just for protection from the sun -- parasols are as much a part of Chinese fashion as purses are. They also apparently host a ton of music festivals here in the fall when it's not so wretchedly hot. I guess these guys are busy rehearsing already.
Overall I'd say I'm glad I went. Although the park wasn't exactly what I'd expected, and I didn't end up reading at all because there was so much to see, it was definitely one of those uniquely Chinese experiences that any foreigner who comes here should gladly shell out five kuai to enjoy.
But I suggest taking the bus.
再见
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