Tiantan Park (Temple of Heaven) - also temple of crazy people

Tiantan park is probably the strangest and coolest place I'd ever been to. It's full of recently retired people who want to act out their creative fantasies. You'll find group performances such as singing, sword fighting, massages, salsa dancing, ballroom dancing, harmonica playing and erhu playing. You'll also find individual singers who are looking to make it big because some alumni have been discovered this way.
It's an interesting sight because Chinese citizens have these repressed hobbies that they weren't able to pursue when they were working. And now since they must retire at 50, it's a great opportunity for them to just do whatever they feel like doing, even if they act like fools. Yay!

Dating in Beijing: Date my daughter

While strolling along Tiantan park (Temple of Heaven), I found a group of parents displaying written advertisements of their single kids including: age, height, education, work info, debt (if any), property (if any), and 'looking for' requirements. If you find an ad that you like, you can introduce yourself and leave your number. But most likely it'll be your parents approaching your future in-laws and leaving your number without you knowing...until you get a call from a stranger asking to arrange a date.
Sweet. P.S.: the man in the white shirt was not pleased with me taking pictures of him. I would have no chance with his 29-year-old, 5'10" son with his own apt and no debt. Darn.
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