In Guangzhou it starts getting warm in March. By April the days are getting hot. The humidity often reaches over 90%(imagine: a lot of sweaty bodies rubbing against each other on the metro). On the plus side, Guangdong's skies are much clearer than in other parts of China and so we can enjoy many blissful, sunny days. On such days, I like to be outside and, as my wedding is approaching, I want to combine the leisure with a bit of work, as in workout.
I mentioned here before that the Chinese are avid hikers. They also love to cycle. This is obvious is places like Dafu Shan, Luogang District, where I went last Sunday. The place was packed, as expected, and nearly everyone was on some sort of a bike, from ordinary pushbikes to 'couple' bikes to bikes with 4 seats: 2 for adults and 2 for small children. Everyone is catered for by multiple renting outlets.
I must admit, I expected some bike tracks but mostly a natural landscape. I couldn't have been more wrong. The place was another, artificially-created and meticulously designed leisure park with fake ponds, old-style bridges, children's playgrounds, eating outlets and lavatories.
Add unimaginable crowds of cyclists, all desperate to go faster down the hill only to suddenly break in an effort to avoid crashing into 4 others, who just appeared from the sides. There was an actual traffic jam. In a park.
Despite all that, I still enjoyed my trip there. Some routes are quite hard and so it was a good exercise. It was also nice to have a little picnic by the 'lake', even if the cafe next to it was blasting 'I will always love you' by Whitney Houston.
As always, and particularly on such hot and humid days, I was full of admiration for the Chinese, who really make an effort to keep their bodies fit. It was lovely to see so many happy, smiley faces, whole families spending time together. In many places, you don't see much of that anymore...
I must admit, I expected some bike tracks but mostly a natural landscape. I couldn't have been more wrong. The place was another, artificially-created and meticulously designed leisure park with fake ponds, old-style bridges, children's playgrounds, eating outlets and lavatories.
Add unimaginable crowds of cyclists, all desperate to go faster down the hill only to suddenly break in an effort to avoid crashing into 4 others, who just appeared from the sides. There was an actual traffic jam. In a park.
Despite all that, I still enjoyed my trip there. Some routes are quite hard and so it was a good exercise. It was also nice to have a little picnic by the 'lake', even if the cafe next to it was blasting 'I will always love you' by Whitney Houston.
As always, and particularly on such hot and humid days, I was full of admiration for the Chinese, who really make an effort to keep their bodies fit. It was lovely to see so many happy, smiley faces, whole families spending time together. In many places, you don't see much of that anymore...