The MingQing Square

The Mingqing SquareDarkness is falling down at a barely perceptible speed as a sure sign of autumn. The wind is no longer full of heat but bleakness. However, it doesn't matter. Hundreds of students are gathering together for some unknown reason. Within half an hour, this place alters its expression from peace and tranquility to hustle and bustle. Suddenly, as if bewitched, the crowd stop their chirp and turn to the center. Amazing music swells and heavy lights flash, adding some mystery and joy to the atmosphere. A rock music feast has just started, right here, in the magnetic Mingqing square of Anhui University. It is a place that enjoys high popularity, a square that has unique temperaments, a holy land that meets our expectations.I can scarcely remember how many times I have been standing in the square, breathing the lifeless smell of the withering grass and embracing the chilly autumn wind with dispersing mist. Y et I am not tired of enjoying this again and again, not only because of its ethereal beauty, but because of its unspeakable uniqueness.Standing on the main entrance of the square, I get a panorama of the square, which presents me with a broad vision. In the near front is an open round wide stage with a diameter of about fifteen meters and four cuboid pillars around it. Plenty of performance is showed and activities are organized here. Thanks to the elaborate design of building the stage half meter higher with six steps, audience standing farther have a fair chance to experience the liveliness and joy. People will unconsciously have a false sense of superiority when standing on the stage, but sometimes that is real. When I feel like a loser, I will come here, stand alone, glimpse at the empty bleachers about thirty meters far away, and inspire myself ,"I am somebody, you see, I am at the center of the campus!" Then motivation and confidence will flood into my heart, drive me further on the way to dream.Walking down from the steps, I know exactly how many narrow paths are there, surrounded by grass and leading to different directions. Unfortunately, the used-to-be green grasses have been heavily trampled and trodden, and now are presenting a miserable appearance, struggling painfully against infertility and begging humbling for sympathy, which always stirs up my sentiment when I pass by.Every time when my eyes search farther beyond the grass, I am impressed by the outdoor bleachers on the periphery of the square, which looks like a giant ring worn on a slender finger, leaving me innumerable imagination. A vivid picture of my footprints left on some corners of the bleachers comes to me as I close my eyes, some of which witness my toil, tears and sweater; others, joy, happiness and enthusiasm. The stands ascend with steps on the central axis till the top area where the flagpole stands. At every sunrise and sunset, standing at attention and watching the solemn flag-rising and flag-lowering ceremony have become an indispensable part of some students' life here.For me, the square alters its expressions from season to season in pursuit of beauty. Spring endows it with green and vigor; summer, red and enthusiasm; autumn, gold and maturity; winter, gray and laziness. To the attentive eyes, the expressions not only differ in the natural landscape but also in human landscape. The crisp sound of reading in the square draws the curtain of a new bright day. During the daytime, it has plenty of time to conserve strength and store up energy for the rejoices after the night falls. It is like an unwritten rule that no party will ever last later than half past nine, after when the square returns to normal.After a day's hard work, not only me, but other students would like to spend some leisure time here either sitting or standing by twos or threes. Among them are red-faced team workers arguing for some detailed plans, pleasant friends talking their heart to each other, sweet lovers flirting with their honeys, or a lonely boy meditating alone, a lovelorn girl weeping for her miserable life. When the night darkens and students leave for their dormitories, the easy and busy day for the square finally comes to an end. The night falls asleep peacefully, so does the square.One of the most peculiar scene in the square is the English Corner every Friday night. It is a special corner where I spent two years and a training task that transformed me from a shy girl to a brave speaker. For some students, attending it is as religious as going to church. No matter which school you come from and how your English proficiency is, as long as you have the desire to open your mouth and the thirst for knowledge, you will get the floor. This is an assembly for the brave who dare to challenge themselves. Heated discussion and harmonious conservation among them cheer up the atmosphere. Sparks of wisdom collide frequently. However, some unwitting passersby may mistake it for a noisy food market, when they get into the circle to seek novelty, they are involved. Sometimes, they are so devoted that they forget about the time. It doesn't matter. When dorm keepers shout angrily, "What the hell are you doing? Don't you know it's too late! ", they can just smile and reply confidently, "I am seeking wisdom," and dexterously put an end to the conservation. That is the common sequela of the English Corner.This is just a dorp in the peculiarity ocean of the Mingqing square, a place interweaving vitality with tranquility, freshness with perpetuity; a place where my imagination can go wild and my feelings can release freely. If you ever feel its unique temperament by heart, I dare say you will undoubtedly fall in love with it. Whatever, I love it.。