The lotus pond has clear water

 　　The ancient city boasts a lotus pond, just a stone's throw from the bustling Yuhua Road, easily accessible. Within the garden lies a ten-acre lotus pond, with Kunlang Garden to the southwest. A massive Taihu rock, riddled with holes, stands before the moon gate, backed by a clump of bamboo. The south-facing house features a three-sided corridor, with a small, elegant, and tranquil courtyard paved with bluestone, free from traffic and noise. Every morning, a group of elderly people, bathed in the morning sun, hold long brushes, their ink flowing from the lotus pond, their characters imbued with the fragrance of red lotus blossoms. They find joy in writing calligraphy on the ground, appearing almost like immortals.

　　This is truly—a harmonious blend of regular, cursive, official, and running scripts, dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing. They refine and polish their skills, achieving the strength and elegance of Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. They compose Tang and Song poems, Han dynasty prose and couplets. They find joy in forgetting worldly cares, praising the present and reciting the past. An octogenarian, ambidextrous, writes with both hands. The contrasting styles complement each other beautifully. Visitors marvel, eager to take photos. They pick up their brushes and try their hand at writing, amidst laughter and chatter.

　　For over two years, nearly a hundred members have participated in the ground calligraphy activity. Although it is a self-organized group, it is loosely organized yet cohesive. The elderly use ground calligraphy to inherit and promote the precious art of Chinese calligraphy, showcasing the profound cultural heritage of the ancient city and adding a new scenic spot to Lianchi. With the support of all sectors of society, the elderly have also hired calligraphy and classical Chinese studies teachers to promote calligraphy and literature together, and to hold exhibitions and exchanges of calligraphy and poetry works in various forms. Everyone loves calligraphy, inherits the essence of Chinese culture, and promotes classical Chinese studies, which is both enjoyable and beneficial to society. They are happy and active in their later years.

　　In early summer, the lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green, surpassing even the beauty of spring. On that day, nearly a hundred ground calligraphy enthusiasts from various parks in the ancient city gathered at Kunlangyuan, wielding long brushes and displaying their unique skills. One finished writing, and another took the stage; one had the rules of Tang regular script, and the other had the fluidity of running script. You wrote: "Dragons and phoenixes fly in to write, the sun quickly rolls away to read." I wrote: "I write magnificent chapters to cultivate rhyme, who says the breeze is lazy to read?" The atmosphere was lively, filled with literary spirit, and the audience was packed like spectators, as if watching a martial arts competition.

　　Ground calligraphy, for senior citizens, is both good for their health and for cultivating their minds. Promoting traditional Chinese culture through calligraphy, it has become increasingly popular in the ancient city in recent years. Truly, as the saying goes, "A gentle breeze brings spring back to the ground, and by the dust-free waterside, I love books."