Crowds flock to folk dance shows
Performers from across China put their cultures on display at National Yangko Exhibition
"We hope that people can appreciate the masculine strength in our performances, as well as the rugged, unconstrained culture in Shaanbei (northern Shaanxi) characterized by the wilderness and rough climates," said Liu Zhenjun, head of the workers' union of Hengshan district's culture and tourism bureau, who added that the Hengshan Old-style Waist Drum Dance will participate in an international tourism promotion event in March.
Other forms of yangko, such as the Yingshang Flower Drum Lantern Dance from Anhui province, the Jishan Stilt Walking Monsters Dance from Shanxi province and the Manchu Flower Stick Dance from Northeast China, also made their debut in Yulin.
Locals have passionately welcomed the show.
"It was loud, crowded and cheerful every day," said Liu Wangwang, a local resident."It was mind-blowing to enjoy the variety and greatness of traditional folk art forms at our doorstep."
The city received some 2.55 million tourists and generated about 1.28 billion yuan ($178 million) in revenue, both more than double the visitors and revenue seen during the same period last year, official statistics showed.
"The exhibition displayed the unique charm of traditional culture, as well as the contemporary value and vitality of classic intangible heritage items," said Gao Xiaofeng, head of Yulin's culture and tourism bureau.
Contact the writers at liangshuang@chinadaily.com.cn
Li Xujia contributed to this story.
