Saturday, 20th April, 2013.
Our Xī’ān guide Derry took us to the Xingqing Park, situated on the former site of the Xingqing Palace of the Tang Dynasty. The palace was almost totally destroyed through the chaos caused by war in the late Tang Dynasty and remained in ruins up to the beginning of the Ming Dynasty.
In 1957, in order to meet the recreational needs of the large population of Xī’ān, the Municipal Government decided to build Xingqing Park on the site.
The park now covers a total area of 50 hectares. Former palace buildings such as Chengxiang Pavilion, the Flower Shedding Brilliance Gallery, Nanxun Hall, Dragon-tying Hall and Changqing Hall were reconstructed on their original sites in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty, and their old names are still used.
It was very interesting to see the Chinese people enjoying themselves in traditional community activities, and making their own entertainment.
On this day, I was having a problem with my memory card, and the spare that I “always” carry was in my usual camera case – at home. Consequently, until I could buy another one, I took these pictures on my phone. I also took a few video clips, and will try to work out later how to add them to this post.
Just inside the gate were these classes of children at Saturday morning “English School”, singing If You’re Happy and You Know It in English. So cute!
After line dancing, these people give each other a one-handed neck massage. Mmmmm…………..
There was a procession with costumed dancers and people playing traditional instruments.
Gate 1 kindly gave us some pink fans, so we could join in the procession. This building would have been one of the reconstructed former palace buildings.
This little boy was drumming in the band, and doing a good job too.
These people, accompanied by a stirring band, were lustily singing patriotic songs.
The polished stone beside these stairs made an excellent slippery slide for the children. (I think Tatyana went down it as well.)
Spinning a top with a whip. Some people from our group had a go, and didn’t do too badly either.
Dancing by the lake. These convoluted limestone rocks are often featured in Chinese gardens.
The park is famous for its displays of tulips, but I think we had hit the end of the tulip season.
The park is popular with parents or grandparents with children. With China’s one-child policy, if two only-children marry, both of their parents have only one grandchild. So this generation of only children can have two parents and four grandparents doting on them alone.
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