Every morning, when sun rises from the horizon with its brilliant color, Beijing slowly wakes up from its slumber. In various parks in Beijing, there are a lot of people, some running, some walking, some singing, some dancing, some practicing their swords and other practicing Taiji ... People come here to relax and welcome the new day.

On a stone path in the park, there was an old man, who was holding a wood stick about one meter long and painting something on the ground. His movements were quieter and less noticeable but nevertheless constituted a unique scene. I was so curious that I came near to him and found out that a sponge tip was attached at the end of the stick, making it a brush.

That man dipped his giant brush in water and started writing on the ground. The characters he wrote had a very elegant style. What was more surprising was that he could write with both hands at the same time, which really impressed me. The characters of a poem written on the ground slowly disappeared as water evaporated, while the old man continued to write a new one.

Later, I found that there were many people who practice calligraphy on the ground in parks. After inquiring, I got to know that this way of writing is called "square calligraphy" (the Chinese pronunciation is "dishu"), meaning calligraphy on the ground. Square calligraphy started in the 1990s. People take the ground as paper and the clear water as ink; it is a very economic way to exercise and does not pollute the environment. Many senior citizens tried to write themselves and gained a lot of fun in doing so. Square calligraphy is not only a relaxing exercise for movements by the entire body, but also a good way to cultivate nature and improve health. Another advantage is that it can help people make new friends through practicing square calligraphy.

地书 

        每天清晨，当朝阳映着绚丽的彩霞，懒散地浮出地平线，整个世界慢慢地从睡梦中醒来的时候，北京的各个公园里已经有很多人了，人们有的跑步，有的散步，有的唱歌，有的跳舞，有的舞剑，有的打太极拳，......，人们以自己最为喜爱的方式放松着身心，迎接美好的一天。
        在公园里一条石板路上，有一位老人，双手各拿一根一米多长的木杆，在地面上画着什么，动作舒缓有致、抑扬顿挫，和周围运动的人群相比，显得安静、平和许多，构成了一道独有的风景。我充满好奇地走到近前，才发现，木杆的末端缠着一些海绵样的东西，形状酷似毛笔的笔头。老人用它沾些水然后在地面上写字，字体潇洒飘逸。更令人叫奇的是老人竟然能用双手同时书写，还能挥洒自如，不得不叫人叹服。老人一边写，原来那些漂亮的字迹随着水气的慢慢蒸发也渐渐消失了踪影，老人则又在上面开始书写新的诗句。

        后来发现，公园里像这样的老人还不少呢。一打听才知道，原来这个活动还有一个名字叫"地书"，兴起于上个世纪90年代。人们以水代墨，以地为纸，既练习了书法，又经济，还环保。写"地书"的多半是老年人，因为写地书需要全身运动，他们用这种方式来锻炼身体；同时也以练习书法来修身养性；另外，老人们还可以 "以笔会友"，通过切磋技艺而结识新的朋友，可谓一举多得。

• horizon [hə´raizən]   n.地平线；范围；视野   (初中英语单词)
• brilliant [´briliənt]   a.灿烂的；杰出的   (初中英语单词)
• slumber [´slʌmbə]   v.&n.睡眠；沉睡状态   (初中英语单词)
• running [´rʌniŋ]   a.奔跑的；流动的   (初中英语单词)
• welcome [´welkəm]   a.受欢迎的；可喜的   (初中英语单词)
• painting [´peintiŋ]   n.绘画；(油)画；着色   (初中英语单词)
• nevertheless [,nevəðə´les]   conj.&ad.然而；不过   (初中英语单词)
• writing [´raitiŋ]   n.书写；写作；书法   (初中英语单词)
• surprising [sə´praiziŋ]   a.惊人的；意外的   (初中英语单词)
• pronunciation [prə,nʌnsi´eiʃən]   n.发音(法)   (初中英语单词)
• cultivate [´kʌltiveit]   vt.耕作；培植；培养   (初中英语单词)
• advantage [əd´vɑ:ntidʒ]   n.优势；利益   (初中英语单词)
• unique [ju:´ni:k]   a.唯一的 n.独一无二   (高中英语单词)
• sponge [spʌndʒ]   n.海绵(状物)   (高中英语单词)
• elegant [´eligənt]   a.文雅的；优美的   (高中英语单词)
• environment [in´vaiərənmənt]   n.郊区；周围；条件   (高中英语单词)
• senior [´si:niə]   a.年长的 n.前辈   (高中英语单词)
• noticeable [´nəutisəbəl]   a.显著的；值得注意的   (英语四级单词)
• holding [´həuldiŋ]   n.保持，固定，存储   (英语六级单词)
• pollute [pə´lu:t]   vt.弄脏；败坏，玷污   (英语六级单词)