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Home In Pictures

In Pictures: Yingge dance shines in China ahead of lunar New Year

MM News Staff by MM News Staff
January 25, 2025
Images: Gulf News

Images: Gulf News

In the vibrant streets of Shantou, southern China, 40 young dancers, dressed in colorful costumes and painted faces, perform an energetic traditional dance to the beat of gongs and drums. This dynamic display, a mix of martial arts and Chinese opera, is part of the ancient “heroes” dance, which has deep cultural roots in Guangdong province and is a highlight of Lunar New Year celebrations.

“The energy is incredible! It’s so exciting to watch,” said Wang Mei, a 50-year-old tourist visiting for the Chinese New Year, which begins on January 29, marking the Year of the Snake.

The dancers, clad in intricate robes and headdresses of soldiers or mythological heroes, are mostly aged 12 to 30 years old.

With painted faces and vivid costumes, 40 young dancers leap through the streets of Shantou in southern China to the sound of gongs and drums as hundreds of spectators watch.

The dancers, aged between 12 and 30, bring the performance to life as they clash sticks together in front of a small wooden temple. Their movements are followed by tens of thousands of online viewers across platforms like Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), where the performance has gained increasing popularity in recent months.

The dance is a source of pride for a region where traditional culture remains strong.

The Yingge dance, meaning “songs of heroes,” originated in the cities of Shantou and Chaozhou in Guangdong. Often performed during festive events such as the Lunar New Year to bring good luck, the dance draws inspiration from legendary Chinese tales, including the famous Ming dynasty novel “Water Margin.”

The Yingge dance was performed for Xiaonian - literally "little year" - the traditional start of New Year preparations, an opportunity to hang red decorations symbolising happiness and to clean one's home.

For the people of Guangdong, the dance represents more than just a performance; it is a source of pride, preserving the traditional culture of the region. “In other parts of China, there’s less of a New Year atmosphere. Here, it’s unique. We came especially to watch this dance,” said Wang, expressing her admiration for the regional tradition.

The dance, registered as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, still attracts young people.

As urbanization and modernization change lifestyles across China, many traditional practices are fading, such as the banning of firecrackers in some cities due to safety concerns. “Younger people often work far from their hometowns and don’t pass down traditions as much,” said Hua Jie, 52, who traveled from Nanjing after seeing videos of the dance on Douyin.

Dancers in costumes perform a traditional Yingge dance at an ancestral temple in Shantou, in southern China’s Guangdong province on January 23, 2025.

Registered as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, the Yingge dance continues to captivate younger generations. Zheng Guangyan, a 25-year-old math teacher and dancer, shared the feeling of pride and vitality that comes with performing. “When we put on these outfits, we feel really cool,” he said, adding that 130,000 viewers tuned in to watch his troupe’s recent performance online.

Often performed during Lunar New Year celebrations or other festive events to bring good luck, it is derived from legendary tales, including the classic Ming dynasty Chinese novel "Water Margin".

The Yingge dance remains a testament to Guangdong’s rich cultural heritage, blending ancient tradition with modern-day digital platforms, keeping it alive for both local audiences and global viewers alike.

As the performers clash sticks together in front of a small wooden temple in Shantou, tens of thousands follow the performance on platforms like Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, which have in recent months helped the unique dance explode in popularity.

A mix of martial arts and Chinese opera, this traditional dance of "heroes" with ancient roots still lights up parts of Guangdong province ahead of the Lunar New Year.

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