Ancient Waking Lion dance performance shines in Guangdong's Spring Festival celebrations

The ancient intangible cultural heritage of "Awakening Lion" dance unique to south China's Guangdong Province is being performed across the province during the ongoing Spring Festival holiday season running from January 28 to February 4, bringing people festive cheer, boosting their spirits and promoting traditional Chinese culture.

The Awakening Lion dance is the southern style of China's traditional lion dance performances. Not limited to Spring Festival celebrations, it has been an essential performance for all festivals and event celebrations in Guangdong for over a thousand years. Combining Chinese martial arts with the movements of lions, the performance symbolizes strength, vitality and the spirit of striving and flourishing.

"As the saying goes, 'The Awakening Lion awakens the nation's soul, and drums boost the spirit.' Why do we perform the Awakening Lion dance during on the occasion of all major festivals and celebrations, including the Spring Festival? It is not only to bring good fortune and auspiciousness, but more importantly, to foster national unity and bring us together. So, it also reflects the spirit of solidarity and positivity of our Chinese people," said Zhao Weibin, an inheritor to the Awakening Lion intangible cultural heritage.

In Guangdong, various types of Awakening Lion dance are named after different characters from the Romance of Three Kingdoms, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. The colors and features of each lion represent the virtues and characteristics of these legendary figures, symbolizing the pursuit of traditional Chinese values.

"All the footwork in the Awakening Lion dance performance derives from Chinese martial arts. In performances on the quincuncial piles, the gaps and piles represent rivers and mountains, and the performance is intended to inspire people to boost their courage, assume their responsibilities, and stride forward for a brighter future," said Ye Zhongming, another inheritor to the Awakening Lion intangible cultural heritage.

From performances on ground to intricate feats on quincuncial piles set on water, the Awakening Lion dance performance is evolving into an increasingly complex and visually stunning performance, drawing tourists from near and far to enjoy the show.

"My hometown is Zhangye City in Gansu Province, in the Hexi Corridor. Seeing the lion flashing and hopping on the water in person is truly breathtaking. I feel that this is how the spirit of the Chinese nation is passed on. It is magnificent," said Tang Jieguo, a tourist from over 2,000 kilometers away in the northwest.

Since the Awakening Lion dance was enlisted as China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, Guangdong Province has been promoting the art by various means. Today, the Awakening Lion dance has become a prominent cultural product of the province, and in its capital city of Guangzhou, nearly 200 schools have opened Awakening Lion dance performance classes to preserve and pass on the cultural treasure as part of traditional Chinese culture.

Ancient Waking Lion dance performance shines in Guangdong's Spring Festival celebrations

Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hit Malaysian movie screens at Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, on Saturday.

The event drew more than 1,000 attendees, including cultural and media representatives from Malaysia and China, as well as local fans.

Joyce Lee, managing director of local film distributor Encore Films, said the film's soaring social media buzz and the passion of local audience bolstered her confidence in the film's market potential in Malaysia.

"I think the response today is unprecedented. As you can see, all major media outlets are here, including both TV and radio stations. I myself am very confident that the movie will have a high number of screenings," Lee said.

"The story is very, very good. People who want to watch the film must come and watch. The pictures and the story are so cool, completely cool," said a moviegoer.

As a sequel to the 2019 animated hit "Ne Zha", the latest installment in this rebellious deity's saga has captivated audiences worldwide. The film is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time globally and the seventh most lucrative film ever.

Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hits Malaysian screens