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In Beijing’s Liulichang Street, a historic cultural quarter over 300 years old, people often practice 地书 (dishu), or “ground calligraphy.” Using large brushes with sponge tips, they write Chinese characters on the pavement with water. The strokes shimmer for a moment before evaporating in the sun, leaving no trace.

This tradition began in the 1980s and has become a beloved morning ritual, especially among older residents. It’s more than art — it’s gentle exercise, mental focus, and social interaction. Writers often reproduce classical poetry or philosophical sayings from memory, following traditional calligraphy rules. The act is meditative yet communal: people gather, chat, and exchange thoughts on technique and meaning.

Liulichang dates back to the Ming dynasty, named after a famous coloured-glaze factory that once produced tiles for palaces and temples. Later, it became a centre for scholars and imperial exam candidates. Today, the street is lined with antique shops, bookstores, and art studios. Watching dishu here feels natural — a living tradition in a place long devoted to literacy and aesthetics. For Western visitors, it offers a quiet, authentic glimpse into daily Chinese life: no performance, no commerce, just the fleeting grace of expression in water and sunlight.