Beijing Park Life A Respite From Urban Growth

BEIJING, CHINA - JUNE 12: Chinese men chat as they watch women dance at Ritan Park on June 12, 2016 in Beijing, China. Ritan, meaning 'sun altar', is among the oldest parks in Beijing, built in the early 1500s during the Ming dynasty for the emperor to make sacrifices to the sun. Less than half a kilometer square, Ritan these days is considered an oasis of green space in a sprawling city of skyscrapers, notorious air pollution, and a population of over 20 million people. Most Chinese live in small apartments with no access to gardens, leaving parks as a welcome haven for people, especially the elderly, to exercise, socialize, or enjoy a degree of privacy. The average day at Ritan is a showcase of conventional routines such as jogging, dancing, and martial arts, mixed with the assortment of odd activities -- including 'voice exercises' and back-scratching on trees -- that are known to be unique staples of Beijing park life. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)