Letter from BeijingThe Liangma River in Beijing, on June 15, 2025. These fully redeveloped banks of the Liangma River have certainly become one of Beijing's most popular leisure spots. Things are getting better," said Mo, 55, who would go there every day during the warmer season. Just a decade ago, the canal was mostly known for its pollution and was bordered by stark concrete embankments. Apart from its historic center, with its narrow alleys and traditional rooftops clustered around the Forbidden City, Beijing, home to 22 million people, was an ocean of concrete.