Photo: The Grass Police

The Hangzhou Grass Police
See more images by timbeckenham at flickr.

No, not that grass. One behaviour that struck me as bizarre when I first came to China was the respect/avoidance the average citizen had to obviously empty grassed open spaces. I had thoughts of a large population of people afflicted by agoraphobia. But I soon realised after my first attempts to enjoy the well-lawned areas I infrequently came across came at a cost. Destroyed eardrums. Shrilled whistle blows eminating from 'Garden Police' (for want of a better term). Places like Jing'an Temple Park in Shanghai have a diligent and superbly-lunged series of guards that keep people off China's few lawns.

I'm unsure to why this is the case. I lean towards the fact that gardens are revered in China as there are quite few of them in urban areas, and also by the fact as soon as there is an open shaded space, there is a bustle of human activity until every square millimeter of it is filled by members of the general public. I also suspect in some cases this policy is enforced from a public health perspective (witnessing several separate events of public ablutions in the past has made a deep impression me and persuaded avoidance of particular gardens around Shanghai).

So while this area might be begging for a game of cricket, ultimate disc, or just a picnic, fret not citizens of China, your lawns will be kept safe from your own activities. You can enjoy the view from the footpath.

This entry was posted with flickr

Technorati Tags: Shanghai, China, expat, flickr