As the Chinese New Year draws near, a public square dance performed by a group of dama, or middle-aged women, in Qingdao, Shandong province, has sparked nationwide attention on family photos.

The group of dama, with an average age of 62, has been using their body moves to call upon their children return home for family reunions during Spring Festival in order to take family photos together.

According to a survey by Sina's Weibo microblog, a total of 60 percent of Chinese people haven't taken a family photo in the past three years and more than 80 percent don't carry photos, showing all the family members together, with them - a surprising result considering the traditional Chinese value of emphasizing family harmony.

Liu Jun, a 53-year-old dance instructor who helped to create the dance said she owns only one family photo at her home and couldn't even remember when it was taken.

A group of middle-aged women, based in Qingdao, creat the dance to promote more attention on family reunion and photos. [Photo by Hu Qing]

"My sole son works in Shanghai and he only comes back once a year, on the occasion of the Spring Festival," said Liu, who wishes to take a new family photo in the coming traditional New Year.

"We hope all young people who are studying and working in different cities from their parents can go home as often as possible," Liu added.

Lu Shuzhen, a 63-year-old woman who also joined in with the dance performance, echoes Liu's idea. "When sons and daughters leave, parents can see family photos to express yearnings," she said.

Liu and her daughter live in the same city, but they rarely meet each due to her daughter's busy working life. Their only family reunion photo was taken 20 years ago.

"Though modern communications like cell phones and video chat are advanced, we still hope children can frequently come back, enjoy nice family time and have beautiful reunion photos," said Lu Shuzhen, a voice shared by everyone in the dama dance group.