Beijing Top 10 Outdoor Activities

 Summary
Parks and open spaces in China host an exciting variety of activities from exercise techniques to sporting competitions that play an important role in society. More than just ways of personal improvement, such activities bring people together in groups which creates great social environments characteristic of Chinese culture. Recent government policies aiming to promote health and fitness in China have also given way to a boom in popularity of outdoor entertainment; among the following are both traditional ancient classics and more modern fads.

1. Kite flying
The history of kite flying in China dates back nearly 3,000 years and still plays an important role in Chinese culture today. Amongst several theories that attempt to pinpoint the origins of the kite in China, one popular legend is that it was first invented when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind. Since its invention, the readily available materials of silk and bamboo have made the perfect resources for producing strong and lightweight kites that have been used for a number of interesting purposes.
As well as a recreational sport, the kite was historically used for sending messages, measuring distances, testing the wind, lifting men, and managing communication during military operations.
Today in China, Kite flying remains a popular form of entertainment and can be seen in several of the city parks and open spaces. As well as these small local practices, national kite festivals are held annually in China which brings kite flyers from all around the world to demonstrate their latest skills and models. In particular, the city of Weifang in the north-east of China promotes itself as the “kite capital of the world” and is home to the largest kite museum in the world. Its annual international kite festival is a hugely popular event that involves massive displays on the large salt flats in the south of the city.
  
2. Jianzi
Whether played competitively on a court, or as a fun group game, the sport of "Jianzi" is an incredibly popular hobby across China for people of all ages. The aim of the game is to keep the heavily weighted shuttlecock in the air using all parts of the body other than the hands. Many streets and parks in China feature large groups of people taking part in the game, showing their skills as they aim to keep the shuttlecock in the air as long as possible. Particularly skilled players use special moves such as the back heel and overhead kick to impress spectators.
The shuttlecock itself, also known as a "Chinese hacky sack" or "kinja", typically has four feathers attached at the base by a number of washers, weights, or coins to give it the weight required. The combination of heavy and light materials creates the perfect balance to ensure an accurate movement. Due to the widespread availability and low cost of the materials used to create the shuttlecock, Jianzi can be enjoyed by people of all backgrounds throughout the country.
As a formal game, Jianzi is played on a court similar to that of badminton and involves either individuals or teams trying to keep the shuttlecock off the ground and over the net. However most popularly played as a fun group game, Jianzi is a very social sport involving large numbers of people of all ages making it an important part of Chinese social culture. 
 
3. Tai chi
Tai chi is a centuries-old Chinese martial art that involves a series of slow, meditative body movements that promotes physical fitness, inner peace and calm. Developing out of a soft-style martial art known as "taijiquan", tai chi is based on the natural and graceful movements of animals and birds that aims to increase the circulation of "chi" energy around the body. Particularly popular amongst the elderly community, large groups can be seen in public places practicing the art from as early as sunrise. The reason for its popularity is due to the belief that Tai Chi can delay aging and prolong life, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, and aid in the treatment of a variety of illnesses.
As well as health and fitness, Tai Chi also has a philosophical element that is closely linked to the beliefs of Taoism. Taoism promotes the values of a calm, reflective and mystic view of the world that originates in the beauty and tranquility of nature.
This unique combination of physical and spiritual benefits makes Tai Chi an important part of Chinese history and modern day culture. The appearance of large groups in open spaces moving in slow, rhythmic harmony creates an eye-catching and unique display.

 
4. Yangge
The ancient Chinese folk dance known as Yangge originates from the Song dynasty and is still today an extremely popular form of outdoor entertainment. Particularly popular amongst elderly women, dancers dress up in colorful costumes and dance to traditional music played using a drum, trumpet and gong. This loud and colorful display attracts crowds of people who gather to enjoy this ancient tradition. Hugely popular in the north of the country and especially in Beijing, it is estimated over 100,000 people are regular participants.
The importance of Yangge however is not just a display of ancient culture and art. Its physical element makes it a great form of exercise and way of staying fit and the enjoyment of group dancing is a great way to socialize and feel good about life. Yangge can also even involve a competitive element; in 1998 Beijing hosted a Yangge contest which saw more than 16,000 participants compete.

5. Water Calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy is an art that dates back over 3,000 years and is regarded as a great tradition of Chinese culture. Contrary to popular belief it is not simply writing Chinese characters nor is it simply fine handwriting; Chinese calligraphy is actually an art to communicate with spirits that expresses the calligrapher's personality, mood, ideas, thoughts and soul. Characters must be artistically created using the perfect formation of characters with attention to stroke detail and exact proportions.
When visiting parks and popular gathering places you will often see masters in the art of calligraphy creating works with a paintbrush and water on the ground below. This is a form of the art known as "water calligraphy" and is a common feature of outdoor areas in China. Using a traditional style of brush most commonly made with a bamboo handle and with hair taken from a range of animals including wolf, rabbit, goat, and deer; spectators gather to watch the artists as they create their masterpieces with time and precision. The works of art however can only be enjoyed for a short time as the sun dries the water and the carefully formed characters fade before the eyes. 
 
6. Qigong
The art of Qigong is an ancient Chinese breathing exercise that focuses on rebalancing "life energy" in order to achieve self-healing, spiritual development and overall wellbeing. Some even claim that masters in the techniques of Qigong can exercise extraordinary powers such as X-ray vision, teleporting objects using the mind, levitating, and accurately predicting the future.
Thought to date back over 2,000 years, the techniques of Qigong have mainly been passed down the generations through traditional health professionals and in the religious sphere through Taoist and Buddhist monks. Until the 20th century however Qigong was not a widely practiced hobby. Techniques were deliberately kept as the secret possession of a few privileged individuals and it was never practiced in public places.
Today in China however Qigong is an extremely popular and widely practiced form of exercise that can be seen in many public spaces in the cities. With the widespread revival of ancient Chinese culture since the 1970's, Qigong has become a familiar aspect of popular culture and it is estimated over 70 percent of the urban population of China are involved in practicing the techniques. 
 
7. Opera Singing
Opera singing has had a rich history and important place in Chinese culture since its earliest known origins during the Song Dynasty. Although it has evolved significantly from its original form, it is still accepted as one of the most ancient forms of drama in the world. As a stage performance, Chinese Opera is a huge spectacle of song and dance that involves colorful costumes, make-up, masks, acrobats, jesters, acting, poetry, and martial arts.
However rather than being confined to professional stage performances, you will often see Chinese people participating in Opera singing in many public places throughout the country. As a popular hobby of middle aged women, many gather to socialize, dance and practice their Opera singing to the sound of traditional music played by a portable stereo. In Beijing a popular area to enjoy the sounds of Opera singing is Jingshan Park where for years many have gathered to practice the traditional songs in a scenic setting.

8. Outdoor Dancing
In almost every park or open space in China you will see a collection of middle-aged women dancing in large groups. Participants regularly meet from around the city to chat, dance and enjoy the fresh air and quiet atmospheres of these numerous gathering areas.
However despite the physical and social benefits enjoyed by this practice, there is also an interesting cultural explanation as to why this is such a popular past-time. China has an ever increasing and ageing population that has recently seen a change in its working environment. Favoring younger employees, often companies will often offer redundancies particularly to women around the age of fifty which creates a large number of fit and healthy people with a large amount of free time. Dancing in parks offers a cheap hobby to enjoy their time amongst people in similar situations.
Another interesting side effect of this cultural change is the rise in divorce rate amongst women in their fifties. The extremely social environment created by these dancing events increases relationships amongst participants which can affect marriages. 

9. Table Tennis
A regular feature of outdoor entertainment in China is the game of table tennis. Originally invented in Britain in the late 19th century as an after dinner game of indoor tennis, the sport spread to the east by British Army Officers stationed in parts of China, Korea and Japan.
Since China first won the World Championships in 1961, the sport boomed in popularity across the nation and has since seen them dominate the sport in all major competitions. By looking at China's culture and society one can begin to understand why it is such a popular game. Table tennis is an extremely practical sport in a country with such a huge population and shortage of personal space. The area required to play the game allows people to either possess tables in their homes or form local clubs in comparatively small areas. Also, as table tennis is an indoor, non-seasonal sport it can be enjoyed all year round, both day and night, despite the bad weather and harsh conditions experienced during the winters. It must also be appreciated that due to the lack of equipment required to play the game, it acts as an extremely cheap option for entertainment.
On fine days you will often see masters of the game displaying their skills in parks throughout the country.

10. Two wheeled skateboard
An interesting and eye-catching fad sweeping many of the public areas of China is the two-wheeled skateboard known as a "Wave Board", "Essboard" or "RipStik". Moving using only two wheels, the board turns freely on a pivot in the center allowing riders to create movement by turning their hips with no need for pushing off with their feet. Such motion allows for much tighter turns than a traditional skateboard.
Originally the board was created by a Korean inventor; however copies of the design have recently appeared from US companies who attempt to expand the popularity of the sport. Whilst still a relatively unknown item in the west, the youth of China have embraced this recent fad and can be seen riding around showing off their speed and skills throughout the country. The popularity of this unusual sport continues to rise and is quickly becoming a must-have item of young Chinese people.