A group of amateur dragon dance performers from an eastern Chinese county have impressed Spanish audience in late June with a fascinating show inspired by a mythical love story.
Looping and swishing, colorful male and female "dragons" were moved through the stage with poles held by 19 Chinese dancers. Traditional dragon couple dance team from the Changxing County in China's Zhejiang Province crossed tens of thousands of miles to participate in the 37th Jaén International Folk Music and Dance Festival in Spain. This was the only Asian team present at this festival.
"We have been looking forward to bringing a group from Asia for many years. We were offered this team. We didn't hesitate after seeing its quality and the colorful diversity. The performance really exceeded my expectations," said Desiree Amaro, chairman of the festival's organizing committee.
The dance troupe has a total of 28 members. None of them is a professional. They are farmers, teachers, office workers and township officials.
"This performance was a great success. It resonates with the audience, showing their interest in the Chinese dragon. Our Chinese spirit and Chinese story will continue to go global," said Wu Lusheng, director of the Traditional Dance Professional Committee of the Zhejiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association.
Performing abroad has given the amateur dragon dance team more confidence. There's even better news: In 2023, dragon couple dancing from the village has been listed in the sixth batch of Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage in Zhejiang Province. That means it gets financial support from both the county and the town. Now that more people are joining the team, the ancient custom shall continue to be passed on to the next generation.
The dragon couple dance was born in a small village called Qingcaowu in Changxing County and it has been passed on for more than 100 years. It originated from a romantic Chinese folk tale about a dragon couple who settled in the village and brought a peaceful and prosperous life to the locals. Therefore, villagers will stage the dragon couple dance during traditional festivals to pay tribute to them.
Chinese dragon couple dance wows Spanish spectators
As Chinese people enjoy their week-long National Day holiday, many have flocked to the western suburb of Beijing to experience the excitement of the World Table Tennis China Smash 2024, which concluded on Sunday after eleven days of fierce competition among the world's top players.
As the premier event on the World Table Tennis circuit, this year's WTT Smash is taking place from September 26 to October 6 at Beijing's Shougang Park.
At Smash Park on the western outskirt of Beijing, table tennis enthusiasts gathered to watch live matches on a big screen while relaxing on the lawn and enjoying the cool autumn breeze.
Families and friends cheered for their favorite players, calling this one of the best ways to spend the holiday this October.
"I've been a huge fan of table tennis for many years. I watched the matches inside the venue on September 29. It's fantastic to have an event like this in Beijing during the National Day holiday. The atmosphere is amazing," said Ma Qiuyu, a resident.
The Smash Park features four main zones: outdoor competitions, interactive entertainment, brand exhibitions, and dining. DJ performances are staged during breaks between matches, adding to the festive atmosphere.
One of the highlights for many fans is the daily meet-and-greet, where star players interact with the crowd and sign autographs.
Notably, the event is held in the Ice Hockey, Short Track Speed Skating, and Figure Skating venues—facilities used during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
"I came from Qingdao with my wife and kids specifically to watch the matches. I work in architecture and urban design, so I'm really impressed with how Shougang Park has transformed from a steel factory into Winter Games venues, and now into a space for the WTT Smash," said Liu Yang, a tourist from Shandong Province.
This is the first time in over six decades that Beijing has hosted a top table tennis event under the International Table Tennis Federation. Champions will receive 2,000 world ranking points. Beijing has secured the rights to host the WTT China Smash from 2024 to 2028, all set to take place at Shougang Park, making full use of its Winter Olympics legacy.
Visitors flock to Beijing's suburb to watch World Table Tennis China Smash 2024
