(Fig) The bright natural scenery by the lakeside.

(Fig) The Vincennes Forest Park is one of Paris's spaces for swimming and boating.

(Top image) The solemn and sacred large golden Buddha statue at a Tibetan Buddhist temple.

(Fig) Water ducks by the lakeside.

(Fig) Rarely do I see bewitching purple flowers and fruits. Last night was again Paris’s annual "Nuit Blanche" (for details on this topic, please visit the Art section). I wandered all night, first visiting places near my home with my wife, then taking the Metro Line 14 alone to the Batignolles district in northern Paris, heading south past Madeleine, circling Palais Royal to Châtelet, going down to Bercy, and finally visiting the Mitterrand Library, before returning to my residence in Olympiades for a loop around 6:30 AM. Everywhere felt like a carnival of collective Parisian revelry. Despite the entire night, I remained energetic with not a trace of fatigue; instead, my feet felt slightly tired, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment. It was a rare and beautiful sleepless night. Artistic Paris made me feel as comfortable as a fish in water, filling my heart with happiness, allowing me to enter beautiful dreams and that unattainable dreamland. This Sunday, enjoying rare good weather with sunshine shining brightly, I woke automatically around 12:30 PM. Sunlight hit my buttocks; peeking out the window, I saw the brilliant sun. In this crisp autumn day, it felt like a return of summer heat. Seeing such warm weather sparked an urge to go out. My wife and I had lunch playfully, and seizing the fine weather, decided to go for a walk. First, we thought of the lush green Meudon Forest near Paris, where I often stroll with friends to absorb phytoncides. Now, amidst the crisp autumn transition from deep green to red and golden yellow, the poetic and picturesque scenes are quite charming. Not only were there layers of fallen leaves, but also many chestnuts. Indeed, Meudon Forest is a bit far, so we temporarily decided to stroll in the Vincennes Forest Park east of our home.

Paris is uniquely blessed with large forests on both its east and west sides (Vincennes and Boulogne forests, each about 1,000 hectares). The vibrant Vincennes Forest is another great oasis in the City of Light, serving as one of the two lungs for Parisians, and certainly the largest leisure space and gardening center for eastern Parisians. In the vast forest, trees are lush with diverse species; almost all French tree types can be found here, resembling a botanical garden. In this clear, green open space lies a considerable Vincennes Zoo, a medieval castle, a horticulture academy, a racetrack, Georges-Lamier Farm, the famous Floralies Garden, three artificial lakes, two restaurants, and a Tibetan Buddhist temple, among other things. Furthermore, it serves as a temporary playground for the City of Light and a venue for circus performances, making it an outdoor amusement park with everything available.

Taking the PC bus around the perimeter, we arrived in about 15 minutes. Entering the lush green forest park, everywhere were people seeking leisure. Around the lakeside reflecting light and shadows, many families went out for outings, picnics, or sports: jogging, leisurely strolls, groups of children playing, and many people lazily lying on the green lawns basking in the autumn sun and reading. The lake appeared busier with numerous boats coming and going; this is one of the two major spaces for boating and water play in Paris, resembling summer scenes beyond imagination. We strolled along the lakeside, seeing many Asian people forming groups. Fortunately, the Tibetan Buddhist temple was open today. My wife and I visited it en route. Coincidentally, it was a Cambodian Buddhist festival day. Many Cambodian market stalls gathered in front of the temple, filled with various foods and souvenirs. A strong aroma of five spices immersed us in an exotic atmosphere. We entered the temple to pay respects to the large golden Buddha (my first time entering this hall to worship the Buddha). Afterwards, we continued our leisurely stroll, crossing an iron bridge into a small island. The outdoor café on the island was full of customers. By the lakeside, many people lazily enjoyed the sun or read, while children played. Passing through the Temple of Love and traversing stalactite caves, we climbed stairs to reach a luxuriant garden, viewing the lakeside scenery and plants. Everywhere, insects chirped and birds sang, resembling a paradise away from the world. We slowly circled the large island along winding rural paths. We ended our unforgettable stroll in the Vincennes Forest Park since early autumn only when the sun set. Indeed, Paris is a city for strolling or walking, whether on urban boulevards, commercial streets, parks, gardens, green spaces, or even wandering through art forests in museums. For those who do not like walking, recently many bicycles are also available to replace strolling and tour the Paris metropolis, which would offer another kind of experience.