China in Photos | Yingge Dance
Embodying the bravery, loyalty, and spirit of legendary figures
The Yingge Dance is a folk dance popular in regions such as Shantou, Chaozhou, Jieyang, and Shanwei in Guangdong province, as well as Zhangzhou in Fujian province. It is a unique art form that blends Southern Chinese martial arts (primarily short-range boxing styles from Fujian and Guangdong) with local theatrical and performing arts. Nowadays, the Yingge Dance has become a bridge connecting the East and the West as a traditional intangible cultural heritage. On February 2, the performance of Yingge Dance in the Avenue des Champs-Elysees added a festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year in Paris.
The Yingge Dance draws its inspiration from Water Margin, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. The characters in the dance are based on the 108 heroes in Water Margin, each embodying the bravery, loyalty, and spirit of these legendary figures.
The main form of Yingge Dance performance is a large-scale group dancing. The dancers hold a short wooden stick in each hand and strike them against each other in up-down, left-right motions.
The movements of the Yingge Dance are vigorous and powerful with a strong rhythm, and its vigorous and imposing dancing postures deliver a stunning experience of strength and beauty.
In recent years, the popularity of the Yingge Dance has gradually increased with the spread of social media, both domestically and internationally.
Performance of the Yingge Dance in Suining city, Sichuan province, on January 30, 2025
Actors from Chaoshan region (including cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang) of Guangdong province perform the Yingge Dance in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, on February 2, 2025
During the Lantern Festival celebrations in Malacca, Malaysia, the Malacca Yingge Dance team make their debut on February 12, 2025.
Editor/ Tan Yujie
Translator/ Zhang Ying
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