Building Bridges
From Mahjong to Swimming to Ding, Jeslyn Koh explores the day-to-day bonding activities that locals participate in.
he locals of Wuhan participate in many recreational activities such as Swimming, Mahjong and Ding. They do so frequently, allowing the community spirit between one another to thrive.
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Mahjong
“It is full every day, they never miss a mahjong session,” commented a security guard of an apartment estate in Chu Kang Street (楚康路), Wuchang. Located in a convenience store among the blocks of apartments, the five mahjong tables are constantly filled up.
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Residents are allowed to rent a mahjong table for 60 yuan (SGD12) an hour. Since its implementation last year, residents have been flocking down to play. It is especially crowded after lunch, laughter and the sounds of Mahjong pieces knocking with each other will be heard.
Mahjong tables set up in a convenient store in Chu Kang street (楚康路).
“ They are my people, people I can trust
with my life. It is our habit to swim
here every day,”
- Mr Chen, 60, who swims in the YangTze river every day.
Swimming
For every day of the past 60 years, Mr Chen has been swimming in the Yangtze river, which is between the Wuchang and Hankou districts. No matter the weather, be it warm or cold, he can still be seen swimming with his friends. One can easily spot them by the bright orange float that they tie to their waists.
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“They are my people, people I can trust with my life. It is our habit to swim here every day,” commented Mr Chen (陈先生).
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Mr. Chen adds that swimming is a good form of exercise for them. A swim across the river and back will take fifty minutes but Mr Chen and his friends find it fulfilling and worthwhile. After all, not only do they keep fit, but they get to forge long-lasting friendships.
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Mr. Dan (丹先生), a father in his late fifties, brings his children to the river to swim as well. Mentioning how the waters are “especially cooling” between June and September, he swims there to spend time with his family and exercise.
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As his father used to bring him to the river when he was a kid, Mr Dan does not intend on letting his children miss out on such a valuable experience.
Ding
Twice a week, a large group of elderly can be seen at Wuhan Institute of Technology moving around in slow motions while hitting themselves with a stick decorated with tassels. This is a cultural dance known as Ding.
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One of the participants shared that she likes Ding because it helps her to relax, exercise and make new friends. Regular participants are able to interaction every session, creating bonds.
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“Hitting the end of the stick onto our bodies not only creates sound, but it also helps to relax the muscles and improves blood circulation,” shared Ms. Zhou (周女士), the instructor of the group.
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Dancing in sync is already a difficult feat but Ding dancers have it worse, needing to dance in sync and getting the timing of hitting the stick right. One can see their dedication and love for Ding through the efforts to dance in perfect synchronization while having fun.
Some locals have been swimming across the Yangtze river every day, for the past couple of decades.
