General Information » Culture & Lifestyle » Culture

As China’s political and cultural heart, Beijing has a strong sense of tradition. Head to a park early in the morning or at a weekend, and you will see locals engaged in activities at the very core of the country’s cultural psyche. Groups of people will often be practicing tai chi (p.241), the slow-motion ritual. Originally developed as a martial art, it is now used to maintain fitness and inner peace. Another ritual commonly seen in public places is calligraphy. Practitioners use giant brushes dipped in water-filled buckets to trace the outlines of complex Chinese characters on paving stones, only for them to evaporate in minutes.

Music is another key cultural tradition. Beyond traditional Peking Opera (p.347) performances, locals enjoy gathering at places like the Open Corridor near the Temple of Heaven (p.188) to play traditional instruments or sing. Others engage in lively games of cards or mahjong (p.153). You can find teahouses (p.324) throughout Beijing, and locals love gathering to chat over a pot or their individual flasks or jars. They may discuss politics, but it isn’t controversy that draws them there; it is the sense of community spirit and comradeship which endures. Venture onto the vast expanse of Tiananmen Square and you will find families and groups of friends picnicking or enjoying the age-old custom of kite-flying.

Sadly, how much longer such traditions will continue is another matter. Look closer and you will see that most of the people in the parks are elderly. Like every other country, the young are being seduced by the digital age and the traditions of their ancestors do not seem to have the same appeal.