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Ritan Park Mysteries
i've heard it's tied to the old practice of "asking for a red thread" from the matchmaker in the temple next door. some locals tie ribbons on benches near the temple wall after visiting the altar, hoping it'll help them find love or keep their marriage strong. the temple's been there since the ming dynasty, so the park absorbed that tradition over time.
if you walk toward the north end of the park, near the artificial hill, you'll see some ribbons tied to tree branches too. those are usually from couples who did the whole ritual together. it's not as common as the bench thing but you'll spot a few if you look up.
ngl i asked a local friend about this once and she laughed. said it's a feng shui thing for the elderly regulars. they tie red ribbons to benches they think have good qi or are in a nice spot for birdcage hanging. some of them even have preferred trees they rotate around, the ribbons are just markers for their routine.
if you go to the south gate area around 7am you'll see a guy with a wooden sword who always uses the same bench near the pagoda. his ribbon's been there for years, faded to pink. it's just how they claim their little territory without having to argue about it.
honestly i think it's just old folks being superstitious in a cute way. a lot of the regulars at ritan park have been doing tai chi or walking their birds there for decades, and tying red ribbons to benches is a common thing in some beijing parks to mark "your" spot or bring good luck to whoever sits there next. no deep religious meaning, just local flavor.
if you go back around 6am you'll see the same grandmas tying fresh ones on before morning exercises. it's kind of their version of reserving a table at a cafe.
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best photo spots in beijing?
olympic forest park is slept on fr. the linden trees along the main axis go gold in late october and the bird's nest reflection in the lake at sunrise is nuts, barely anyone there on weekdays. also check out 798 art district on a weekday morning, the old factory pipes and graffiti make great contrast shots. tbh bring a wider lens than u think you need, everything in beijing is bigger than it looks in photos
everyone goes for the big landmarks but honestly the best shots i got were from the overpasses on the 3rd ring road at dusk, just traffic light trails with CCTV tower lit up in the background. also guomao at blue hour from the silk street footbridge, the CBD towers all glassy & orange, tripod helps cuz u need a slow shutter. one thing nobody mentions, air quality totally changes your photos so check the AQI app the night before, a clear day after rain is worth waiting for
For sunrise the Temple of Heaven east gate area is underrated, locals doing tai chi around 5:30am with the morning fog, way better than fighting crowds at Tiananmen. For sunset honestly just walk along the canal near Shichahai, the reflections off the water with the Drum Tower behind are hard to beat. Bring a tripod if you can, the good light only lasts like 20 mins this time of year.