Suzhou, Guanqian Park

Parks draw elderly crowds, each with unique soundscapes shaped by distinct groups, hard to discover without local insight. This recording was a lucky find. Guanqian Park, a refined roadside garden, hosts elderly chess players in tight-knit groups, clearly familiar. 

Some laugh, others argue heatedly, slapping chess pieces in excitement, creating a lively buzz. Onlookers watch quietly with poised restraint, embodying Suzhou’s cultured folk spirit. Unexpectedly found in a roadside park.

Recorded by Digimonk.