Energetic dance 'shuffles' across parks

As vibrant music echoed across a public square in Beijing, a group of people stood in lines to dance, tapping and moving their feet on the ground with swift heel-and-toe movement.

The dance is called the Melbourne shuffle, or shuffle dance, which originated in Australia in the 1980s. With energetic steps, it is becoming a new form of "square dance", occupying China's urban spaces from parks to plazas. It is also a popular exercise for many elderly and middle aged people to lose the kilos.

Han Gong, a 59-year-old expert in repairing musical instruments, joined a Beijing shuffle dance team in 2017. He said dancing daily in the public spaces has helped him fend off high blood pressure and loneliness.