My second day in Beijing (apologies for poor chronology) I walked over to Ri Tan Park (inciting my later unfortunate endeavor to Di Tan Park). Unfortunately, the experience doesn't translate into exciting reading but if you're ever in Beijing you should pay it a visit. I spent most of the day there, amongst the shady trees which keep the place cool, reason enough on a 37 degree day, and the loud sounds of insect and birdsong. The park is quite segmented, almost making the place look small, but the paths intersect and the rows of trees, the rocks, bushes and hills give way to more areas so that becoming disorientated in the deceptively small park quite easy. In the centre of it all, a good landmark to help you find your direction if it wasn't perfectly round, the altar to the sun, a two metre high gold platform in a courtyard that must be forty metres in diameter. All of this is surrounded by a large wall. I didn't dare go in as not only was it empty of people, making me think perhaps it wasn't open to the public, but it was in full sun so my survival chances were slim if I did. There are a few hills with steep stone steps leading to pagodaesque structures, there's a tree which is the largest of it's species in Beijing and towards the back (coming from the west entrance) is a large pond with rail-less bridges crossing over where you can rent a rod and fish.

A few da…

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