DZzzz

It truly feels like a cycle has come to an end.
Economic cycles are not particularly astonishing; the cycle of power is the real cycle. Everything we have experienced has been nothing more than a small stroke of power.
That day, we talked about liking to walk through hutongs, and about the beauty of Beijing and the Second Ring Road. My card-playing companion said that every old building has its own story.
I said, yes, but not every old building has a story about power.
The green hills remain as before; how many times has the evening sun reddened?

My mahjong friends from all over have come to Beijing. One round of mahjong after another.
Last year, everyone with a brick-and-mortar business was losing money, but all the skilled professionals were making money. The young girls from back then have grown up too, and are now all major agents, producers, and directors shouldering the responsibility.
I played with my longtime mahjong partner “Hugging the Nest to Lose”—two old folks, and I couldn’t beat either of them. Hahaha, but I was so happy—the kind of warmth and ease that comes from looking around and seeing nothing but family, enjoying th

The wind and rain are bleak and chilling; the cocks crow loud and steady.
Now that I have seen the gentleman, how could I be so uneasy?
The wind and rain keep pouring; the cocks crow, loud and clear.
Now that I have seen the gentleman, how could I not be comforted?
The wind and rain darken the day; the cocks crow without ceasing.
Now that I have seen the gentleman, how could I still be unwilling to be glad?

This stretch east of the Yuan Dadu ruins is quite full of charm.
It’s a bit like the Liangma River: on one side there’s a park with blue pines and green cypresses, and on the other there are restaurants with a nice, tasteful vibe.
Everything feels new—the pine trees are all freshly planted.
In the past, we would all go west toward Tucheng, on the part by the Crabapple Flower Stream—then you’d just end up shopping and spending in the Olympic business district.
It feels like this place is more like the Liangma River than North Xiaoqhe. If you want a sense of lively prosperity, you still

Went to the handicrafts and intangible cultural heritage museum to take a look at the Shui Bei gold exhibit.
I’m not really able to appreciate these gold and silver things anymore. I just find them bulky and swollen, cumbersome and oily.
When I see these ancient accessories, I feel that “deeply dressing up according to rank” is an incredibly torturous thing—though it’s also still a test of obedience.
I don’t think they’re beautiful; I just think they’re chains. The “guan” on the head is basically like foot-binding cloth wrapped on your head.
Human progress is reflected in the fact that modern

Sparkling and bright; calm like still water.

On the way, I climbed into the Tianjing at the Olympic Sports Center.
I almost accompanied this cat all the way.
The sports atmosphere around the Olympic Sports Center is still good—mainly because it’s big. When a place is both huge and has mountains, water, and roads, it’s really hard for it not to be wonderful.
When I came down, it was already dark, and sure enough I got lost again—following the navigation makes it easy to end up on a road with no streetlights—of course, getting lost in the park is a normal occurrence for me.

The Xishiku Church ⛪️ is truly beautiful.
A clean, neat Gothic style.
The original site was to the west of Ziguang Pavilion on the west bank of the Zhonghai. It was dismantled once during the Daoguang era, then rebuilt during the Tongzhi era. Cixi dismantled it again, and during the Guangxu era it was moved to this place.
In 58, it was turned over to the state. In 85, it was returned again to the Catholic Church in Beijing—the long-standing flow of history.
This place is not far from Guangji Temple. It closes one hour later than Guangji Temple—so you can head out from Guangji Temple fi

Guangji Temple—what a deluge.
I honestly couldn’t stop laughing. Every time I go to a Buddhist religious event venue, I can almost always end up right there when the rain comes pouring down.
I’m just standing under the eaves of the Hall of Great Heroes, carefully watching—wind and rain add a filter to the ancient monastery.
This place is the location of the Buddhist Association. There are especially many monks and believers. The person next to me can really recite scriptures.
All throughout the entire main hall are ancient Ming-dynasty relics. I feel they’re probably made of rosewood—i

When I was younger, I liked living on Changchun Street for a while. Because back then, a few of my good friends were on the west side. Changchun Street is relatively quiet amid the noise. It was also convenient to go to the Financial Street and Xidan. Basically, I didn’t really like crossing the Second Ring Road.
But when I lived over there, Xuanwu Art Garden wasn’t open yet. It opened after the Olympics. Back then, when you passed by, everything was enclosed—under construction and in renovation.
Xuanwu Art Garden turned out really nice. There are also lots of cats.
I came to Changchun Street

The ducks were also raised with a thriving, lively atmosphere.

There are countless Hibiscus trees along the water’s edge, their blush-tinted petals not yet fully浓.
The politics are like a beauty who is just beginning to get drunk; she strongly holds up the green mirror, wanting to dress herself but seeming languid.
——Wang Anshi
This year, in Beijing, it seems the only place where hibiscus is truly thriving is the strip of it by the backyard wall of Houhai. Elsewhere there are just a few scattered plants, with lilacs just beginning to bloom.
This year’s rainfall has been plentiful; the hibiscus looks even more alluring than the hibiscus herself.

The ten-thousand-character Buddha-figured coffer at Zhihua Temple is quite distinctive. Personally, I even think it’s better-looking than the starry-sky ceiling at the Xiannongtan.
Because the starry-sky ceiling is frankly too overly skilled in its woodworking—too much showy technique stacked with buffs maxed out. Instead of looking impressive, it ends up less elegant than the ten-thousand-character Buddha flower ornamentation, which feels pure and refined.
The main hall and the Wanfo Pavilion also have two large dragon-shaped coffer ceilings, but they were sold off by monks who, back then

Nianhua Temple. When I was a child, this temple wasn’t open to the public when I passed by. Even now, it still hasn’t been fully renovated.
The name sounds lovely. It also has a long history. It dates back to the Ming Dynasty.
The wall carvings at Nianhua Temple are all lotus flowers.
What’s especially wonderful is that the flowers, fruits, and vegetables offered by the people around here are all potted plants too. Natural and unrestrained—easy to feel close to. It doesn’t have that ominous, off-putting air that some ordinary temples do.
If I’m still alive, I should be able to catch it

The Qianmen area is really something you can keep strolling into and finding new things.
Every time you run your fingers over a corner and a wheel, you’ll come across a few old relics.
Today, on my way from the Christian church to Xianyu Kou, I pulled open another old escort agency.

Zhaofu Street is not long, it's a small alley I really like. Just hearing the name feels intimate.
Between Hong'en Temple and the former residence of the old imperial father-in-law. The trees reach the sky.
In this small area, there is Beiping Garden's sub-brand Beiping General Store, the last state-run grocery store, a "Shanghai Building" which is now a co-creation space, authentic pork offal congee. And there is an extremely handsome Italian restaurant.