Eric's Beijing Diary

Is there any place in the world where it is always Fall? If you ever hear of it, let me know. Until then, I think I will stick with Beijing. You know, you really can't beat a North China autumn. Today I went with Cindy and some of her students to Fragrant Hills. The bus ride out there is a little long--about an hour, I guess, but on a day like today, it's really worth it. Problem is, about a million other people thought so, too. So there isn't anything like solitude. But the park is big, so once you get through the gate, it's really not that crowded, except at a few places where things sorta bottleneck, such as at the top of the steps if you climb to the summit. I didn't today. I have been up there twice, and I just wanted to spend time looking at the beautiful scenery.

In one sense, if you live on a university campus, you really don't need to travel for an hour to a park to see beautiful scenery. The park here at Beihang doesn't perhaps have all the variety of Fragrant Hills. But it is pretty colorful, and it's right outside my door. That's why I said, "If you know any place in the world where it is Fall all the time, let me know." You really can't beat a North China autumn.