Guangdong has finally entered the most pleasant season of the year. After the National Day holiday, the temperature dropped significantly. Although the midday and afternoon temperatures are still high under the sun, the mornings and evenings are cool, and the humidity in the air has decreased, making it much drier and more comfortable.
In previous years, it was rare to enter this kind of season as early as October. Sometimes, Guangdong wouldn’t experience autumn until November, when stronger cold fronts moved in.
Last night, we finally had the rare chance to finish dinner early, giving the whole family plenty of time to take a leisurely walk in Shunfengshan Park.
In recent years, Shunde has gradually become a tourist city thanks to its cultural symbol of “food.” However, aside from the food, Shunde’s tourism resources are quite limited. Many tourists, drawn in by social media and the “A Bite of China” program on CCTV, flock to Shunde on weekends and holidays, only to be surprised that, besides the food, there aren’t many remarkable places to visit.
The most typical example is Qinghui Garden. It’s a small garden that can’t accommodate many visitors, yet during holidays, the garden is packed with more tourists than the koi in its ponds.
Disappointed and frustrated, tourists vent their complaints on social media, feeling like they’ve been misled. Friendly Shunde locals often respond, saying, “How could those internet-famous spots be any fun? We Shunde residents spend our leisure time at Shunfengshan Park.”
Soon enough, Shunfengshan Park also became a tourist hotspot.
We used to spend our weekends taking walks in Shunfengshan Park to pass the time, but recently, we’ve been going less and less. There are just too many tourists, and there’s not even space to park the car.
Fortunately, by the evening, the tourists disperse.
Last night, the main entrance of Shunfengshan Park was just like the serene and beautiful park I’ve always remembered. In front of the main gate’s archway is a wide-open square, with groups dancing in every corner. Some children were riding bicycles, others were playing with scooters, and a few small groups of teenagers were practicing their tricks on scooters.
My daughter, Xiaoman, learned to ride a bike right here, probably during last summer. She picked it up quickly. We used the small incline of a bridge to help her balance. I held the bike steady as she glided down the slope, and she immediately got the hang of balancing. On her second glide down, we encouraged her to press her feet onto the pedals and give a little push. That time, she pedaled for several minutes before stopping — and just like that, she had learned.
However, last night, she wasn’t too interested in biking. She rode slowly while I jogged behind her. Kids really grow up fast — last year’s bike already seems too small for her, which probably explains why she doesn’t enjoy it as much. Perhaps it’s time for a new one.