■ "Listen to Chi Chunsheng, resign and watch the pine"
Walking in old Beijing because of the inconvenient transportation at that time, ordinary people or poor students often went for a spring outing near Gaolianghe, Taoranting and Dongzhimen outside Xizhimen. Gaoliang River, also known as Changhe River, is a beautiful river in the northwest suburb of old Beijing. At that time, willows on both sides of the river were green, peach blossoms were blooming beside the long river, and there were many temples and sorghum on both sides. The beautiful scenery attracts tourists to come here for a spring outing. At that time, it was known as "the Temple of Heaven is full of pine trees and the long river is full of willows". There are also some rich children and literati who ride horses (sedan chairs) or ride bicycles to Badachu, Xiangshan, Tanzhe Temple, Jietai Temple and other places in the outer suburbs to enjoy the scenery, flowers and springs. At that time, there was a saying called "Tan Zhe Nong Chun, stop at Guansong".
■ During my stay in Tomb-Sweeping Day, it was the time to appreciate Magnolia.
In addition, around Tomb-Sweeping Day, when spring is in full bloom, the early blooming Magnolia is known as "Yushu Qionghua", and its graceful, clean and beautiful flower quality has been loved by people since ancient times. In old Beijing, people go to the Summer Palace, Tanzhe Temple and University Hall to see several rare ancient magnolia trees planted in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The white and fragrant magnolia is full of foliage and flowers, which gives great enjoyment to tourists. After liberation, a large number of flowers were planted in the park, such as peach blossoms in the botanical garden and magnolia planted on Chang 'an Avenue, which attracted people to watch whenever they were in full bloom.
Another custom in Tomb-Sweeping Day, old Beijing, is to go to the Chenghuang Temple to burn incense, bow down and ask for divination on this day. As soon as the annual Ghost Festival in Tomb-Sweeping Day opens, people go to pray for drought and rain (when it rains, it is sunny), go out for peace, get well when they are sick, pray for the dead, burn incense and worship, and so on. At that time, the temple fair was very lively inside and outside, there were stage performances in the temple, and the goods outside the temple were also mixed. According to the old man's memory, in the early years of the Republic of China, there was also a trip to the city. People carry rattan "castellans" around the city in sedan chairs, and all kinds of incense will accompany them. After the "Lord of the City", they performed yangko, stilts and five tiger sticks. Walking and performing, the crowd passing through the market is like a flood. There is a miscellaneous chant: "The temple is also divided into inner and outer cities, and it is also early autumn and early winter. Men and women burn incense and ask about life and death. " That is the custom in Tomb-Sweeping Day.