小张的破站

Tag: September 2025

  • September 2025: A Rainy Day in Beijing

    September 2025: A Rainy Day in Beijing

    In September 2025, rain washed Beijing into a softer color. This was not a perfectly planned trip. It was more like walking forward, eating whatever looked good, looking up at old roofs, and saving the small moments before they slipped away.

    Starting with a Local Taste

    The day began on a wet street, with people passing by and the pavement shining under the rain. A bottle of bean drink in hand made the first scene feel very Beijing.

    A bottle of bean drink held on a rainy Beijing street.
    A bottle of bean drink held on a rainy Beijing street.
    A golden candy figure against a wet street background.
    A golden candy figure against a wet street background.
    Two skewers of grilled meat on the old street.
    Two skewers of grilled meat on the old street.

    The candy was bright, the skewers were hot, and the street was still damp. Happiness was very simple here: one bite, a few more steps, then another bite.

    Grilled skewers raised in front of the old street.
    Grilled skewers raised in front of the old street.

    Old Gates, Rain, and Slow Footsteps

    Near Qianmen, the city gate stood quietly under a grey sky. There were many people, many umbrellas, and many reflections on the ground. Rain did not make Beijing empty. It made the city feel cinematic.

    Crowds moving beneath the city gate after rain.
    Crowds moving beneath the city gate after rain.
    The city gate and red pillars in one frame.
    The city gate and red pillars in one frame.
    The Forbidden City in the rain, with umbrellas and wet stone paths.
    The Forbidden City in the rain, with umbrellas and wet stone paths.

    The Forbidden City felt best when walking slowly. Roofs, stone paths, umbrellas, and crowds were all softened by the rain. The photos are not bright in a sunny way, but they keep a quiet mood that I like.

    Palace walls and green trees after the rain.
    Palace walls and green trees after the rain.

    Sweet Drinks and a Warm Meal

    After walking for a long time, cold drinks felt necessary. Later, a table full of hot dishes brought the day back to the body: soup, rice, and rich flavors after hours outside.

    Two cups of HEYTEA during the trip.
    Two cups of HEYTEA during the trip.
    A warm meal with fried rice, soup, and several dishes.
    A warm meal with fried rice, soup, and several dishes.
    A Beijing-style meal with rich sauce, sides, and soup.
    A Beijing-style meal with rich sauce, sides, and soup.

    When the Sky Turned Dark

    Evening arrived with a sky full of layered clouds. The busy noise of the day slowly faded, leaving a little light, a little tree shadow, and the easy silence that comes after walking all day.

    Layered evening clouds over the street.
    Layered evening clouds over the street.
    Holding hands at night, slightly blurred like a memory.
    Holding hands at night, slightly blurred like a memory.
    Minion ice cream stand under trees in the last light.
    Minion ice cream stand under trees in the last light.

    This is the first real post on Xiao Zhang’s little site. Nothing huge happened. It was simply a rainy September day in Beijing: food in hand, old roofs above, wet streets below, and someone walking beside me.