A white winter in Beijing is nothing new. The city is【小题1】（frequent）enveloped in snow over the colder months. However, the snowfall last weekend led【小题2】a unique combination of the seasons and a contrast of colours.

Famous places, especially with unique【小题3】（nature）beauty, were blanketed with a layer of snow and visitors. Camera in hand and braving the cold, I headed off to two of my favourite scenic【小题4】（spot）.

My first stop was Jingshan Park. The artificial park【小题5】（build）in the Ming Dynasty offered remarkable views of the Forbidden City. The coating of snow, contrasting with the colours of the autumn leaves and ancient structures only added to【小题6】（it）elegance and mystery. It is a view I【小题7】（see）countless times over the past decade and remains one of my favourite in the city.

Next up was Xiangshan Park,【小题8】dates back to the Jin Dynasty. There was a significant increase in【小题9】number of visitors. People traveled from all over China【小题10】（witness）the tree-covered hillsides transforming from their rich summery greens into yellows and reds like a blanket of fire. This created a picture I wouldn't soon forget.

In recent years, shared vegetable plots (地块) have been appearing in Shanghai’s suburban districts as more white-collar workers turn to farming to relax and escape the pressures of city life.

Among these individuals 【小题1】(be) Yang Rui, who, on weekends, drives his family from their home in downtown to the All-Happy City, 【小题2】 shared ecological farm in Minhang, where he has rented a 20-square-meter vegetable plot for 1,600 yuan per year. The family tends carrots, lettuce and other vegetables they have planted. When they aren’t around during the week, 【小题3】(professional) take over the work and perform whatever chores 【小题4】(need).

This farm has about 200 members, some of 【小题5】 even raise chickens and ducks that wander in the fields.

【小题6】(found) by Chen Yougui in October, the shared farm has an area of 13.33 hectares 【小题7】 comes with shared vegetable plots and leisure areas. According to Chen, the monitoring system 【小题8】(cover) the entire farmland allows members to view their vegetables and fields remotely through their phones. The farm also uses technology to ensure that the chickens and ducks raised 【小题9】 customers don’t go missing or end up in someone else’s plot — each animal comes with its own QR code.

Chen notes that many of his customers are parents who rent plots 【小题10】(primary) to teach their kids about science and nature and how farming works.