A large-scale Yingge dance performance was held in Chaoyang District, Shantou, Guangdong, on February 21, attracting thousands of spectators for the annual Chinese New Year celebration.
The event, centered at the district's Wenguang Pagoda Square, featured troupes of performers, lion dances, and a parade stretching 2.4 kilometres through the local streets.
The program included traditional lion dances, a display of performers on fabric horses, and a fashion show incorporating Chaoyang paper-cutting designs. The main event was the Yingge dance, a recognized intangible cultural heritage practice that combines martial arts, opera, and folk dance. Troupes of men, women, and around 40 children performed with wooden batons to rhythmic drumming.
A notable participant was the Yi Xing Yingge team from the Johor Teochew Eight Districts Association in Malaysia. Formed in 2024, the team travelled to Shantou for the festival, marking a cultural exchange with the dance's place of origin.
The event also drew visitors from other parts of China. One couple from Shenyang, Liaoning, said they had brought their child to experience the traditional atmosphere, which they felt was stronger in Chaoyang than in their home region. Another family from Hubei had attended several local New Year events, praising the scale and preservation of Chaoshan's folk customs.
According to local cultural authorities, Chaoyang currently has over 130 registered Yingge teams and 44 certified inheritors of the practice at various levels. The dance has been performed at events including the 15th National Games of China and cultural exchanges in Africa. Overseas, seven Chaoshan cultural associations have established their own Yingge teams.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Plus
