Activism in Beijing’s Urban Green Spaces
There are limited available reports of activism in support of the creation of urban green spaces in Beijing. Below, there are examples of environmental activism that occurrs within Beijing’s urban green spaces.
In Beijing, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) have 2 main goals.
Nature photography and bird-watching are two forms of activism that occur in Beijing’s urban green spaces and address the above-mentioned goals (Zhang & Barr, 2013). Participants may not be directly campaigning for urban green spaces; however, when citizens engage with these activities, ENGOs successfully increase political involvement.
Nature Photography
The socio-political influence of photography arises from not only displaying the photos, but also by taking them (Zhang & Barr, p. 38, 2013). Beijing ENGOs offer photography classes and field trips, taught by photographers and natural scientists, to promote collective action through three means.
Overall, photography classes are occurring in urban green spaces and increasing general public knowledge of environmental problems (Zhang & Barr, p.39, 2013).
Bird Watching
There are an estimated 50,000 birders in China, which means the marked interest in organizations like Beijing Birdwatching Society is not surprising (Zhang & Barr, p. 49, 2013). Bird watching in China is not perceived as an upper-class, exclusive activity. Rather, bird watching in China is promoted by environmental groups and is open to all socio-economic backgrounds 
(Zhang & Barr, 2013). The expansion of bird-watching in urban green areas in Beijing serves as a bridge between the academic community and the public. Through the activity, ENGOs can direct public’s eyes to specific social and environmental concerns.
Non-political + Safe
Nature photography and bird watching in Beijing’s urban green spaces are considered “non-political” and “safe” approaches of green activism (Zhang & Barr, p. 37, 2013). These are acts of organized action and increased individual and public commitment to environmental problems. One could argue that bottom-up activism in China is limited by a lack of political and financial leverage (Zhang & Barr, p. 37, 2013). However, it is important to not underestimate the power of grassroot activism, which develops a more informed society.
Citation
Zhang, J. Y., & Barr, M. (2013). Ways of Seeing. In Green politics in China: Environmental governance and state-society relations (pp. 35-61). Pluto Press.
Image Citations
[Woman taking photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from http://www.nikonweb.com/m9/china_leica_m6_1337.jpg
Snowmanradio (Photographer). (2011, March 19). A pair of Mandarin Ducks at Bei Hai Park, Beijing. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aix_galericulata_-Bei_Hai_Park,_Changqiao,_Beijing,_China_-pair-8.jpg
Martin Mere (Photographer). (2012, December 26). Mandarins. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_duck#/media/File:Pair_of_mandarin_ducks.jpg
Matthew Field (Photographer). (2008, July 29). Demoiselle Crane. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demoiselle_crane_anthropoides_virgo.jpg