Haimen Hemu Women's Yingge troupe performs Yingge dance in Lianhuafeng scenic area in Shantou Haimen Hemu Men's Yingge troupe takes a group photo after a performance in Lianhuafeng scenic area in Shantou a child performer who plays the role of "Shi Qian," strikes a pose after a performance in Lianhuafeng scenic area in Shantou A member of the Haimen Hemu Men's Yingge troupe performs in Lianhuafeng scenic area in Shantou Global Times reporter Niu Yingbo puts on makeup before performing an Yingge dance in a show of the Haimen Hemu Women's Yingge troupe in Shantou Exhibition of Persian artifacts in Chengdu Spring Festival travel rush to see 9 billion trips Members of a Yingge team perform Chaoyang Yingge dance during the Spring Festival celebration on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris or "dance to the hero's song," is a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province and it was listed as the first batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2006 Members of a Yingge team pose for a photo during the Spring Festival celebration on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris A member of a Yingge team takes photos with a baby during the Spring Festival celebration on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris App You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed GUANGZHOU — Drawn by the rhythmic beats of drums and spirited shouts navigated winding streets and bustling alleys until she arrived at the dynamic training grounds of the Ximen Women's Yingge Dance Team this pioneering all-female team is the first of its kind in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong province with members ranging from teenagers to nearly 80-year-olds Performers come from all walks of life — spirited young girls agile middle-aged men and even food delivery workers dancing between shifts is a form of folk dance popular in Guangdong that dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and is often performed during traditional Chinese festivals it was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006 Yingge dance has seen a recent surge in popularity Videos of its energetic routines have flooded social media earning it the title of the "ultimate Chinese New Year atmosphere booster" While men's Yingge performances are inspired by the legendary Water Margin one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature the women's routines often draw from the tales of legendary Chinese heroines such as Mu Guiying and Hua Mulan Raemee watched in awe as the dancers moved in unison this feels much more powerful and rhythmic — it's exhilarating!" she exclaimed The team's coach Wu Yanhua said: "Most of our members are under 20 a folk dance drama by Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre blending heroic moves with emotional storytelling With powerful choreography and a dreamlike narrative this show is a visual feast that’ll leave you buzzing Don’t miss it if you’re into cultural performances with a modern twist a father leaves for Nanyang (Southeast Asia) and disappears the son accidentally enters a surreal dreamscape after striking his father’s abandoned Yingge drumsticks he uncovers his father’s noble sacrifices for family and country reconciles his mother’s buried sorrow The bloodline of heritage endures—unbroken by storms Please reach out to our sales team through a contact channel below: Our editors and admins will review your message and respond to your inbox a vibrant tradition rooted in south China's Guangdong Province continues to captivate audiences with its celebration of folk heroes and cultural heritage Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006 this centuries-old performance exemplifies the heroism and artistic brilliance cherished by the Chaoshan people making it a major representation of Guangdong's folk art The dance is based on the stories of the 108 heroes of Liangshan Mountain from the Chinese classic novel Outlaws of the Marsh dancing with songs sung to a strong rhythm is a traditional folk dance that combines martial arts and dance," said Li Junhao "We Chaoshan people admire and respect heroes which is why the dancers dress as characters from the novel Outlaws of the Marsh," Li added generations continue to honor their heroes Yingge dance in southern China brings folk heroes to life Residents in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir are racing against time to stockpile food and essentials as tensions between Pakistan and India escalate As a standoff between the two countries starting late April continues to escalate Pakistan carried out a second missile test in three days on Monday and India ordered several states to conduct security drills the de facto border that divides the disputed region of Kashmir between the two South Asian neighbors people in Azad Kashmir are stockpiling food and necessities The local government has launched a massive operation to rush supplies to villages most at risk "We have stockpiled large quantities of wheat "The government has said that anything could happen at any time I came here to buy whatever essentials I can afford some wheat and a bit of oil," said Muhammad Saleem remote and snowbound areas stock flour for winter But with threats of cross-border escalation looming the Pakistani government is now expanding storage even in accessible zones relocating supply hubs away from exposed areas "We have allocated a billion-rupee emergency fund and launched an intensive operation to stock at least two months' supply of wheat flour and medicines across the entire Line of Control belt," said Deewan Ali Khan Chughtai As diplomatic efforts struggle to lower tensions between the two nuclear-armed rival nations India blames Pakistan for the April 22 attack that killed 26 civilians at a prime tourist location near the resort town of Pahalgam in the restive Indian-controlled Kashmir Kashmir residents stockpile essentials amid fear of imminent Pakistan-India conflict This page requires JavaScript to function correctly please enable JavaScript in your browser settings first 11 (Xinhua) -- Drawn by the rhythmic beats of drums and spirited shouts navigated through winding streets and bustling alleys until she arrived at the dynamic training grounds of the Ximen Women's Yingge Dance Team this pioneering all-female team is the first of its kind in the Chaoshan region of south China's Guangdong Province Performers come from all walks of life -- spirited young girls and even food delivery workers dancing between shifts or "dance to the hero's song," is a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) this traditional dance is often performed during traditional Chinese festivals Yingge dance saw a recent surge in popularity earning it the title of the "ultimate Chinese New Year atmosphere booster." While men's Yingge performances are inspired by the legendary "Water Margin," one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature the women's routines often draw from the tales of legendary Chinese heroines like Mu Guiying and Hua Mulan Thanita watched in awe as the dancers moved in perfect unison their forms embodying both strength and grace this feels much more powerful and rhythmic -- it's exhilarating!" she exclaimed They train purely out of passion," said the team's coach Wu Yanhua who left her job as a kindergarten teacher to focus on the team's revival in 2011 That passion was evident in every interaction "My teammates take turns helping me with childcare Yingge dance is part of my life -- I even dream about it," said a team member Zhou Yixiang while gently rocking her five-month-old baby in a stroller Six-year-old Huang Kexin eagerly demonstrated snake-dance moves she had just learned hopping and twirling with a delightful burst of playful energy 11-year-old Lin Yahan patiently taught Thanita how to grip the Yingge hammer properly while her twin sister nodded in encouragement During the recently concluded Spring Festival holiday a key city in Chaoshan known for its rich New Year traditions Yingge dance and other traditional performances have become festival favorites Thanita has family roots in Chaoshan -- her father is an overseas Chinese descendant Yingge dance serves as a bridge between Chinese and Thai cultures many in Thailand are already familiar with the dance a Thai Yingge team's electrifying performance at a shopping mall in Thailand went viral the Yingge cultural exchange group from Thailand visited Chaoshan to engage with local dancers Yingge dance teams from Shantou have also been invited to perform on multiple overseas stages for the Spring Festival celebrations Organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province the 25-member Yingge team toured Germany and France from Jan Studying international Chinese education at Shantou University Thanita deeply admires the dedication and enthusiasm of Yingge performers "One of my goals in coming to China was to explore the traditions my ancestors once lived by Yingge has expanded my understanding of Chaoshan and Chinese culture while revealing the cultural ties between China and Thailand," she said.  ■ Picture shows a Yingge dancing performance in Jieyang The on site excavation of China-France joint archaeological project Photo: Courtesy of Li Zhanyang This year marks the 20th anniversary of China joining UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage .. As one of the most prestigious performance groups in the world will meet again at a grand exhibition between China's Forbidden City and .. 20 (Xinhua) -- Yingge teams from China and Malaysia staged Yingge dances during a parade in Johor is a traditional folk dance that originated in the Chaoshan area of South China's Guangdong Province Based on the stories of the 108 heroes of Liangshan Mountain from the classic novel Outlaws of the Marsh People take videos of Yingge dance during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt offered a rich cultural feast in Frankfurt to friends from all over the world through their Chaoyang Yingge dance A woman takes a selfie with members of a Yingge team during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt A woman poses for a photo with a member of a Yingge team during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt A woman poses for a photo with members of a Yingge team during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt Members of a Yingge team perform traditional Chaoyang Yingge dance during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt A woman talks with a member of a Yingge team during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt Members of a Yingge team pose for a group photo during the Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt The Spring Festival temple fair features authentic Chinese national intangible cultural heritage such as Chaoyang Yingge dance from Guangdong traditional folk crafts like sugar painting and performances by Chinese robots and robotic dogs 1 (Xinhua) -- The first Spring Festival temple fair in Frankfurt kicked off on Friday The fair celebrates Chinese New Year with a wide range of festive events It features authentic Chinese national intangible cultural heritage the Spring Festival was officially inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Chinese Consul General in Frankfurt Huang Yiyang said: "The Spring Festival originates from China but belongs to the world The Frankfurt Spring Festival temple fair is not only an event for the Chinese compatriots in Germany to celebrate their traditional festival but also an important platform for promoting the Global Civilization Initiative and fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Germany said at the opening ceremony of the first temple fair for Spring Festival in Frankfurt that this event is very precious It conveys Chinese cultural characteristics and brings a unique style to the local residents of Frankfurt coach of the Ximen Yingge Team from Shantou told Xinhua that the performers will offer a rich cultural feast to friends from all over the world through their Chaoyang Yingge dance "I find the environment in Germany to be excellent We are very happy to be here and are thrilled to celebrate the New Year in such a wonderful place," Chen said.  ■ Dancers perform a traditional Yingge dance in Chinatown Yingge is a form of folk dance popular in South China's Guangdong Province which blends dance 31st Far East Dance Competition held in Vladivostok Dithubaruba cultural festival celebrated in Botswana a form of folk dance popular in the Chaoshan area in south China's Guangdong Province The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Photograph: Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu/Getty Images Photograph: Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu/Getty Images Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jospin Mwisha/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Ihvan Radoykov/Anadolu/Getty Images Photograph: R Satish Babu/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Daniel Ceng/Anadolu/Getty Images Photograph: Hussein Faleh/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Hasan Eslayeh/Anadolu/Getty Images Lin Xiyue (fourth from left) performs lion dancing at a TV program in Beijing in December 2024 Zhuang Enqi performs the Yingge dance in Guangzhou With a symbolic toast posture and a graceful bow lion dance troupes across the nation are diligently preparing to showcase their .. During the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima Members of an Yingge dance troupe perform during a rehearsal in Chaoyang District of Shantou City Local Yingge dance troupes have been busy in rehearsing for performances to greet the upcoming Chinese New Year or "dance to the hero's song," merges opera The Yingge dance was listed as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006 Members of an Yingge dance troupe take part in a rehearsal in Chaoyang District of Shantou City A young member of an Yingge dance troupe performs during a rehearsal in Chaoyang District of Shantou City A member of an Yingge dance troupe demonstrates dance movements to a girl in Chaoyang District of Shantou City Yingge dance coach Chen Tanpeng (C) teaches students in Chaoyang District of Shantou City Yingge dance coach Chen Tanpeng (1st L) watches videos via live stream with his students in Chaoyang District of Shantou City Folk dances in southern China; puppet shows in the east; and festive temple fairs across the country With the inclusion of the Spring Festival in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list travel this year was marked by a surge in cultural tourism with Japan continuing to be the top destination and long-haul destinations like Spain and Australia Spring Tour reported a 30% increase in travelers this year compared to 2024, with a significant portion of searches for intangible heritage experiences coming from Generation Z The surge in interest was particularly evident in cultural tourism with searches for “intangible cultural heritage” experiences up by 212% Interest in “Spring Festival temple fairs” increased by 633% National-level cultural activities also saw major spikes including searches for “Quanzhou Puppet Show,” “Zigong Lantern Festival,” and “Shehuo,” a lively folk performance associated with the festival Southern Chinese cities saw a sharp rise in tourism this Spring Festival, with cultural tourism orders up 50% in the Chaoshan region Fuzhou and Quanzhou also saw significant growth lured tourists with its ancient cultural heritage including the puppet show and the popular hairpin flower craft a 54-year-old high school teacher from Ningbo spent five days in the Chaoshan region with her family drawn by the viral popularity of the region’s folk traditions “The stunning performances are everywhere on social media so I really wanted to experience the festive atmosphere firsthand,” she said To secure a spot for the Yingge Dance performance in Puning City “Seeing the Yingge Dance in person was truly breathtaking The energy and sound of drums created a powerful atmosphere that was completely different from watching it on a phone,” Qian said Outbound travel rebounded strongly this year with trips abroad rising 76% from last year and Japan topping the list of destinations Other popular choices included nearby hotspots like Thailand along with long-haul options such as Spain with the number of international cruise travelers nearly tripling Free independent travel also gained traction Travelers aged 30 to 49 accounted for nearly 37% of all holiday travel while family vacations remained a dominant trend (Header image: Tourists pose with members of a Yingge dance team in Shantou Lin briefly spoke to media regarding JK Rowling's critical comments questioning her gender Women's boxing champion Lin Yu-ting received a hero's welcome in Yingge 8767TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) returned to her hometown of Yingge, New Taipei on Sunday (Aug. 18), where she received a heroine’s welcome, with a parade to celebrate her victory at the Paris Olympics.  To welcome the gold medalist back to her hometown and public schools in Yingge joined efforts to organize the parade and other activities.  At the start of the parade in front of Yingge District Office Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) presented a ceramic “Gold Medal Cup” to congratulate Lin on behalf of New Taipei City Yingge District is known for its local ceramic industry painted white and blue with gold accents to represent Yingge Lin was happy and grateful to see everyone in her hometown celebrate her accomplishment She said it was heartwarming to see how sports bring people together and hoped everyone in Yingge and Taiwan felt pride in her success.  Taiwan Olympic boxing medalist Lin Yu-ting resists Trump’s gender attacks Taiwan boxer to be anti-bullying ambassador Taiwan to award Lin Yu-ting NT$900,000 for World Boxing Championships bronze medal Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting opts not to sue IBA for slander Taiwan's Olympic athletes welcomed home by F-16s Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world Rising Taiwan dollar over Trump tariffs has pros and cons US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index New Taipei's light rail Sanying MRT line 6735TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The New Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems provided an update on Sunday regarding the progress of the Sanying MRT Line which will serve Sanxia and Yingge Districts According to a press release construction of the light blue MRT line was 81% complete as of early 2025 with both construction and testing progressing smoothly The city government is optimistic that regular operations will begin before the end of the year or by early 2026 at the latest The entire track is set to undergo operational testing in April Meanwhile, platform doors have been installed at 50% of the stations and crews are actively installing toll gates The track was completed in October 2024, and since then, rail tests have been conducted across the line’s 12 stations. The Sanying MRT will operate as an elevated light rail system utilizing carriages manufactured by Hitachi Rail Italy The first phase of the Sanying MRT Line will run 14.3 kilometers where it will connect with the Blue Bannan MRT Line The route extends through Sanxia District and Yingge District eventually linking with the TRA Western Trunk Line at Yingge Station Future plans include extending the line into Taoyuan’s Bade District, where it will connect with the Taoyuan MRT system at Danan Station the terminal station of the Taoyuan MRT Green Line the New Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems announced that the Xidong MRT Line is progressing three months ahead of schedule The six-station line will connect the proposed Keelung MRT system with Taipei’s Brown Wenhu MRT Line running through New Taipei’s Xizhi District New Taipei Metro Circular Line resumes full service New Taipei Sanying MRT line begins rail tests New Taipei MRT Circular Line quake recovery period estimated to be 1 year China's much celebrated intangible cultural heritage Yingge dance will be performed at the 2025 Spring Festival Gala a grand celebration presented by the China Media Group (CMG) which will offer a stunning display of traditional Chinese folk culture has been held since 1983 and aired live on the eve of the Chinese New Year It has become a fixture for many Chinese households as part of the country's largest annual holiday celebrations The world's most-watched gala for the upcoming Year of the Snake the sixth of the twelve-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac will be particularly special because it will mark the first celebration after the Spring Festival was recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage It is the collective cultural memory and spiritual home of the Chinese people all over the world Originating in the Chaoshan area in south China's Guangdong Province the Yingge dance is renowned for its martial arts moves turns and jumps all contributing to its charm The energetic Yingge Dance dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and is often performed during traditional Chinese festivals The dance was listed as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006 "We have used various ways to blend traditional elements with some fashionable elements to present [the Yingge dance] We aim to make it understandable and appealing to young people while also resonating with the older generation," said Li Yadi dance director of the 2025 Spring Festival Gala the Spring Festival Gala is more than a television show as it is a cherished New Year tradition Watching the gala together symbolizes unity The emotional connection transcends physical boundaries "We bring our distinctive dance to the Spring Festival Gala to show it to the people of the nation and the Chinese people around the globe Our love for the Yingge dance is engraved in the core of each one of us," said Chen Laifa "I hope that everyone who sees this dance can gain a spirit of self-motivation and striving energetically," said Li Chizhuang "I hope people across the country can get to know our intangible cultural heritage from Chaoshan Wishing all friends across the country good luck in the Year of the Snake and may everything go smoothly," said Chen Kaiming Yingge dance to be staged at 2025 Spring Festival Gala Offshore duty-free shops in south China's island province of Hainan generated 510 million yuan (about 70.14 million U.S dollars) in sales during the five-day Labor Day holiday Hainan's offshore duty-free shops received some 79,100 customers during this period The Hainan government has launched promotional campaigns to attract more customers featuring competitive duty-free prices and shopping mall coupons the province's another major duty-free city The local government has also made it easier for customers to reach and depart from the island To further improve the shopping experience Hainan has introduced four additional pickup options China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential and high-level free-trade port by the middle of the century the island province has become an attractive shopping destination for domestic consumers Hainan's duty-free sales exceed 70 mln USD during Labor Day holiday MRT serving Sanxia and Yingge set to open next year 4091TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Sanying MRT line in New Taipei started conducting rail tests on Friday (Oct with footage shared online by New Taipei City Councilor Chiang Yi-chen (江怡臻).  Plans for the light blue Sanyang MRT line were first put into motion in 2005, reported UDN the line is finally undergoing rail tests in preparation for public use sometime in 2025.  The above ground Sanying line will extend west from Dingpu Station on the blue Bannan MRT line through Sanxia and Yingge districts. There are currently 12 stations on the line, with approximately 77% of construction complete, according to the New Taipei Department of Rapid Transit The track currently covers 14.3 kilometers travelers will also be able to transfer to the Sanying line from Yingge Station on Taiwan Railway Corporation’s Western Trunk line There are plans to extend the line by a further two stations where it will connect to the Taoyuan MRT system at Danan Station in Bade District The line will employ driverless train cars with cars manufactured by Hitachi Rail Italy.  Taiwan boxing champ Lin Yu-ting becomes hometown heroine in Yingge two special groups established a unique friendship as Yingge dancers from both China and Thailand met in Phanat Nikhom for the very first time since the traditional dance took root in Thailand nearly 100 years ago.Yingge dance is a traditional folk dance that originated from the Chaoshan area of South China's Guangdong Province Based on the stories of the 108 heroes of ­Liangshan Mountain from the classic novel Outlaws of the Marsh dance and martial arts. As the dance is usually performed during festivals and celebrations dancers tend to wear colorful costumes and props such as masks spears and drums as they perform acrobatic movements and stunts.With a history of over 300 years in Chaoshan the dance was brought by a pioneer to Thailand over 100 years ago after which it adapted to the local culture and customs.Li Junhao coach of a well-known Yingge dance troupe in Puning took part in the June cultural exchange event in Thailand This was the first time he had traveled to Thailand as well as the first time he got a close-up look at Thai Yingge dance."It was an incredible experience going there," Li told the Global Times."Actually we had longed to meet the Thai dancers ever since I heard that Yingge dance has been well preserved in another country It's just that we never had the chance to go until this month," he added.Li's team has gained popularity on social media through countless videos of their performances posted online since the 2023 Spring Festival.This meeting could never have taken place without the efforts of one person - Deng Yao a legal expert and member of the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Expert Committee."It never occurred to me that Yingge dance would be so vital in Thailand as it originally was a folk dance from Guangdong it has become not only a culture for local ethnic Chinese but also a source of pride for all local people," Deng said.Trying to connectBack in January large crowds of visitors could be seen in Jiexi county as they watched Yingge dancers perform as part of celebrations for the Spring Festival The colorful costumes and the high-pitched background music lifted the atmosphere on the street to the highest point.After learning of the existence of Yingge dance in Thailand where he was stunned to see similar crowds like in China. In March crowds moved to the rhythm of loud drums while a Yingge dance troupe of over 40 artists demonstrated their abilities at a retail center to mark the Chinese New Year in eastern Thailand's Phanat Nikhom district.Seeing how the culture of his mother country had taken root in Thailand the determination to allow the troupes of both countries to meet each other gradually grew into Deng's heart."I proposed the plan to the Guangdong troupes several times and tried to invite them over to Thailand but sadly things didn't work out due to the pandemic It wasn't until this month that we finally met," Deng recalled to the Global Times.Deng noted that this folk dance symbolizes the hard work and courageous spirit of the Chaoshan people."'How did you fall in love with Yingge at the beginning?' This is a question that I asked a lot to the young dancers when I conducted my field trip in Thailand Besides those ethnic Chinese who learned from their parents others tended to answer the question saying they were deeply influenced by the solemn ceremony and heroism of Yingge dance when they were young," said Deng.Expectations for the future"I hope I can go to China one day," one young Yingge dancer from Thailand named Chok told the Global Times. "Not only for Yingge dance I hope to have a taste of the gourmet food there," he said.Chok recalled that at the very beginning his parents wanted him to practice Yingge for his health but quickly it became part of his everyday life.As members of the Belt and Road Initiative the two countries have conducted a string of cultural activities with each other over the past few years ranging from art exhibitions to music concerts.But for Deng Yingge dance can be seen as a new way to boost cultural exchanges at the people-to-people level.The Yingge dance troupe from the city of Udon Thani is another strong branch practicing the folk art in Thailand Deng recalled that the Udon Thani troupe grew extremely excited when he told them of his plans for cultural exchanges Deng Yao (center) takes a photo with members of the Yingge dance troupe from the Thai city of Udon Thani told the Global Times that ever since Yingge dance took root in Thailand a deep cultural bond has existed between different ethnic groups here through the dance."We have different ethnic groups here in town but Yingge dance has been able to get them to mix together through cultural events," Amaralikit said."We expect to carry out more exchanges in the future and hope that Chinese troupes are able to come to Thailand for festival performances next year."  or "Hero's Song," on Tuesday to celebrate the Spring Festival The second issue of the Xivilization series focuses on Xi's call for preserving and inheriting the brilliant most contestants brought to the stage performances featuring traditional Chinese culture by | Mar 10, 2018 | Culture and Lifestyle, The Ketagalan Project I developed an unhealthy obsession with ceramic art It began when I discovered one or two Instagram accounts a Japanese artist called Yuta Segawa who makes miniature porcelain vases and a British artist called Kat Evans who creates formless stoneware sculptures which look like they come from the world of H.R Ceramic art possesses an allure that is not to be taken lightly I took a leap of faith and headed to Yingge While my first throw was not a great success I did learn a lot from talking with the international artists in residence at Yingge Ceramics Academy red brick studio at the back of the sculpture park in New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum The artists in residence program at Yingge Ceramics Academy began back in 2009 the project has brought 77 ceramic artists to Yingge; each for a three month residency where they create artworks for the museum’s collection The program facilitates cultural exchange within the Taiwanese ceramic art community bringing international recognition to the museum and it’s academy I met with two of the current artists in residence Janina Myronova and Kamonchanok Panuwed (May) for a fireside chat about their pottery experiences in Taiwan Spirited Away to Taipei — Kamonchanok Panuwed Kamonchanok Panuwed (May) is artist in residence at Yingge Ceramics Academy in the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum. Until April, you can visit the studio and see what she has created during her past few months in Taiwan. You can also check out May’s work at her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MayandClayCeramicsStudio thank you for taking the time to talk with us Has this residency enabled you to work in a different way to how you worked before which is all about my smaller ceramic pieces I have been able to work in a more sculptural way I have really enjoyed it and I dreamt to do this for a long time I studied ceramic art at Kangen University I live in Kangen and I am part of a consignment store in Bangkok I often go to Bangkok for exhibitions and I keep in touch with everyone through the store Only three of my school mates continued to work in ceramics after graduation but I also have other friends in the Bangkok ceramic scene I have been to Jiufen [the village near Taipei which is said to be the setting of Spirited Away] two times So I started from here; this is my first time to be an artist in residence This collection is inspired by Taiwan’s nature and my surroundings One of my sculptures is about the wind because this town [Yingge] is very windy Yesterday there was a very strong one and they happen a lot How does the ceramic scene in Taiwan compare to the ceramic scene in Thailand but our cultures and traditions make us different Here [in Taiwan] the teapot is important and they make very nice tea ware I use a coiling technique and I met a Taiwanese ceramic artist called Lu Shu-Jen who uses a similar technique She makes sculptures of her pet dogs at her mountainside studio near the sea Janina Myronova is artist in residence at Yingge Ceramics Academy in the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum. Until April, you can visit the studio and see what she has created during her past few months in Taiwan. You can also check out Myronova’s work at her website: www.janinamyronova.com My adventure with ceramics began in Ukraine and I graduated from the department of Ceramic Art at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Lviv where I studied my second masters degree at the Polish Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wroclaw I am studying for a PhD at the same academy in Poland Why are you doing the residency at Yingge Ceramics Museum I took part in the 2016 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale then I heard that I could apply for this residency I couldn’t do it in 2016 because of my studies but now I am more flexible so I can take part in different residencies I am starting with Taiwan then in September I will go to Korea for three months I will come back to Yingge for the Ceramics Biennale and the 2018 Congress of the International Academy of Ceramics and there will be a ceremony for new members there is only one representative from Ukraine Has your residency in Taiwan been successful I have participated in around 30 different countries You come mostly to talk with other artists about your work but in two weeks you cannot make any works and three months is enough time to understand culture it is a quick technique and I enjoy the art of construction I prepare a big slab [of clay] and cut it into pieces of five or ten centimeters so sometimes I have to cut and add one piece I think my forms are made for this technique They are hollow [not solid] because I like them to be light so I can carry them by myself the relationship between people and animals in the project I have been making during this residency Sometimes I feel like they are very unusual wearing a warm coat with just slippers on a rainy day Also their hairstyles; I like when the girls cut a very straight fringe I tried to capture some of their special characteristics Terms of Service | Contact Us © 2013 – 2021 Ketagalan Media A group of dancers performed the traditional Chinese Puning Yingge folk dance at the Burlington Arcade in London on Saturday to celebrate Chinese New Year and offer people a sensory cultural feast With painted faces and each dancer holding a pair of short batons the performers jumped and swung the sticks while walking and dancing from the Chaoshan region of South China's Guangdong province hail from the place where the dance originated and traveled to England to spread wishes of good fortune in the Year of the Dragon to people in the United Kingdom The delegation was organized by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism I feel like it has woken up everybody in the arcade," said Trupti Shah commercial director of the Burlington Arcade which is classified a national intangible cultural heritage in China dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and is considered the dance of warriors because of its close association with the classic novel about Chinese heroism called Water Margin the dance evokes the fighting spirit of the characters in the story a nationally recognized inheritor of the Puning Yingge dance and leader of the team of performers The dance is often showcased during traditional Chinese festivals and is seen as a symbol of good suppressing evil and bringing peace "We would like to convey this spirit to the British people and Many members of the dance team are not full-time performers but ordinary people who earn their living by doing a range of jobs And to continue the performance of the cultural heritage which was traditionally inherited only by men "We definitely need more people to carry forward the heritage," he said The Puning Yingge performance at the Burlington Arcade was part of a series of activities hosted by the shopping gallery to mark the Chinese New Year is regarded as one of London's iconic landmarks The performance event is also part of the 2024 Happy Chinese New Year celebrations in the UK，which are supported by the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in the UK "We feel like our heritage of 205 years and the Yingge dance heritage of more than 300 years is a good combination and a good way to celebrate Chinese New Year," Shah said GUANGZHOU — Clad in a black costume and brandishing a black-and-white serpent prop Chen Zhihui led dozens of performers through a mesmerizing dance as they rhythmically struck drumsticks together in unison it is often performed during traditional Chinese festivals but became a sensation this Chinese New Year after videos of performances racked up millions of views online Chen comes from Tongyu township in Guangdong province He has more than 20 years of experience in Yingge dancing and is nicknamed "fat snake" for his sturdy physique and snake-dancing abilities he only had about 2,000 followers on Douyin — the Chinese version of popular short-video sharing app TikTok — but after the holiday People even drove from other provinces to take a photo with him Contemporary Yingge dancing is closely related to Outlaws of the Marsh who correspond to the 36 heroes in the novel with some large-scale events lasting throughout the day and members practice in the evenings after work Chen said that to prepare for a full day of performances the troupe has to practice for at least six months adding that the heavy costumes and props can be a challenge when dancing for so long more and more young people are joining our team out of a love for traditional culture," he said Yingge dancing continues to develop and change "Practicing Yingge not only improves physical fitness but also helps people learn about traditional culture and it is proving popular among parents and students," she said Wu quit her job as a kindergarten teacher to open a nail salon so now she has more time to dance and teach Yingge long-term "I often find inspiration for new dance moves in daily life," Wu said I saw an elderly person practicing tai chi in a park and created new moves incorporating the ancient martial art." Members of Wu's troupe are taking the dance to more places Xiao Jingtong and Zheng Yuanxuan set up a Yingge dance club at their college many of whom come from areas outside the Chaoshan region (in the east of Guangdong)," Xiao said "I believe the growing awareness of Yingge dancing this year will introduce more people to the charm of this traditional art form." a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province was performed at Burlington Arcade in London on Saturday offering a cultural feast for people there and martial arts dates back several hundred years People watch as artists perform Yingge Dance two special groups established a unique friendship as Yingge dancers from both China and Thailand met .. A dancer performs the Yingge dance during Chinese New Year celebrations at London's Burlington Arcade Dancers perform the Yingge dance during Chinese New Year celebrations at London's Burlington Arcade Students of Shanghai University of Sport perform dragon dance An exhibition of nianhua - or Chinese New Year paintings - a traditional art form that Chinese families .. a cultural exchange delegation from Thailand that practices Yingge A unique feature of "Dance of the Heroes" is the Yingge hammer Performers hold two of these stick-like objects The movements of the sticks must be synchronized with the drums and other musical instruments as well as the actions of all the performers.  Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466 Dancers give a traditional yingge folk dance performance in Jiexi county in celebration of the Chinese New Year on January 31 Deng Yao takes photos of a yingge dancer in Phanat Nikhom People make Chinese knots during a Chinese culture experience activity celebrating the Chinese New Year in Moscow A crisis is in the air: The sun has become unstable and within 100 years The movie Full River Red became the center of attention during the Spring Festival holidays Troupers stage a show of Chaoyang-style Yingge dance to celebrate the Spring Festival in Shantou 9 (Xinhua) -- Clad in a black costume and brandishing a black-and-white serpent prop Chen Zhihui led dozens of performers who rhythmically struck their two drumsticks together while performing a mesmerizing dance in unison It became a sensation during this Chinese New Year as videos of the dance garnered millions of views online comes from Tongyu Township in the city of Shantou in south China's Guangdong Province He has more than 20 years of experience in Yingge dancing and is nicknamed "fat snake," because of his sturdy physique and snake-dancing Chen had only about 2,000 followers on TikTok-like Douyin his number of followers increased to around 20,000 Contemporary Yingge dancing is closely related to "Water Margin," a classic Chinese novel The length of Yingge dance performances varies The dance troupe is mostly composed of amateur groups from the community and the members can only practice in the evenings after work the Yingge dance troupe has to practice for at least half a year adding that wearing heavy costumes and props and performing for several hours is a big challenge for the performers more and more young people are joining the practice team out of love for traditional culture," he said The Yingge dance continues to develop and change the dance is now embracing more women performers is the deputy leader of a local women's dance troupe "Practicing Yingge dancing not only improves physical fitness but also helps people learn and understand the traditional culture adding that her dance troupe has welcomed many female students so that she can have more time to dance and teach Yingge dancing long-term "I often find inspiration for new dance moves in my daily life," Wu said I saw an elderly person practicing Tai Chi in a park and created new dance moves incorporating the ancient martial art." Members of Wu's Yingge dance troupe are taking this art to more places established a Yingge dance club at their college many of whom come from areas outside the Chaoshan region," Xiao said "I believe the growing publicity enjoyed by Yingge dancing this year will make more people aware of the charm of this traditional culture."  ■ A Yingge dance performance is seen on the streets of Shantou in south China’s Guangdong Province on February 14 Hundreds of Yingge dance performers took to the streets of Shantou City Guangdong Province as a part of the city’s ongoing Spring Festival celebrations the Yingge dance is also known as the “Dance of the Heroes.” This traditional folk dance from southeast China is based on the story of the heroes of Liangshan who attacked the Daming Mansion during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) The exaggerated makeup and brightly colored costumes transformed the performers into the swaggering ancient heroes The “2024 Shantou International Lantern Show” is set to illuminate the city of Shantou in Guangdong Province in honor of the Chinese Lantern Festival this Saturday known for its significant population of returned overseas Chinese from nations like Thailand and Singapore the event showcased captivating performances by various celebrated Yingge dance teams from the city holds a special place in Shantou’s cultural identity shared with the Global Times that his team diligently rehearsed “more than three times” in preparation for today’s festivities “Despite regularly presenting performances on special occasions such as today’s Lantern Festival and the Spring Festival we still feel a hint of nervousness and competitiveness due to the presence of numerous Yingge dance teams” the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival is synonymous with vibrant lantern displays unlike many lantern festivals showcasing distinct local aesthetics the Shantou lantern show boasts an unmistakably “international” flair owing to the city’s rich history as an ancient international port Creative lantern designs featuring iconic landmarks like the Merlion statue from Singapore adorn Shantou Small Park showcasing a fusion of local folk heritage with the city’s unique identity as a “hometown for Chinese people returning from overseas” a resident who made the decision to return to his hometown from Malaysia expressed to the Global Times that the “Chaoshan tradition” serves as a beacon in his heart He emphasized that festivals like this provide a valuable opportunity to pass down his family’s cultural heritage to his children reinforcing their connection to their roots In addition to the spectacular lantern displays the festival was further enriched with a variety of folk activities including riddle guessing and Chaoshan Opera performances an opera performer who made her debut with her partner at the 2024 Spring Festival Gala remarked to the Global Times that this seemingly traditional art form now has the ability to captivate a wider audience worldwide thanks to the growing recognition of local culture The public cultural event attracted locals Adorned in her favorite hanfu (a traditional Chinese garment) expressed to the Global Times her determination to seize every opportunity to participate in traditional events like this showcasing her pride in being a Shantou local Lantern displays at Shantou Small Park are scheduled to conclude on March 15 and website in this browser for the next time I comment Li Hao is a photographer covering China’s social transformation and its impact on different groups during a Chinese New Year celebration event in Guangzhou Dragon dance performance at the Qinglong Temple Fair held in Chaozhou South China's Guangdong Province on March 4 dominated national headlines in China throughout last year thanks to the vibrant .. A government work report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation on Tuesday has revealed the main targets .. Increasingly concerned over the dominance of Western media narratives and biases hindering the effective dissemination of China's voice The most complicated part of preparing for a performance of the "Dance of the Heroes" is applying the makeup The dancer's face is covered with symmetrical patterns with distinct colors defining the character's personality and identity.  Fireworks dragon show is held on the 10th day of the first lunar month in Qiaonan village of Jieyang Dancers perform yingge dance on a street in Jieyang Hanfu lovers celebrate the Lantern Festival at the Ming Tombs in Beijing Performers fight over the chocolate ingots Performers recreate the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) silk painting Ming Emperor Xianzong Enjoying the Lantern Festival.  Folk artists perform "iron flowers" in SW China Folk art fair resumes offline events after three years of suspension in C China's Henan Various folk cultural activities held to celebrate Lantern Festival in China is the 23rd generation of a line of potters that started in Cizao Township (磁灶鎮) in 5th century China left Cizao at the end of the Qing dynasty to make a living in Taiwan bringing the coiling technique and kick wheel technology practiced in Cizao with him When Wu visited his ancestral town in 1999 he discovered that the traditional pottery industry there had all but disappeared Wu’s daughter-in-law Lai Hsiu-tao (賴秀桃) — a potter in her own right — says that in the past almost every household in Cizao was involved in producing pottery a pottery producing area in New Taipei City Even after the invention of the electric potter’s wheel made the kick wheel obsolete Wu still finds value in passing on the method to future generations Lai says that Wu is unique in that he is skilled in both coiling and the kick wheel Wu’s ancestors started making pottery in the late Song Dynasty in Cizao a town once full of small family-owned kilns making functional wares It is located at what was once the southern end of the maritime silk road and wares from there were exported via the port of nearby Quanzhou (泉州) to Japan he introduced the kick wheel to Shalu District (沙鹿) in Taichung County and soon it was adopted throughout the nation He was originally reluctant to teach the technique to his son and Wen-sheng later passed them on to Wu Cheng-hung who Before the invention of the electric potter’s wheel potters employed other ways to keep the wheel spinning fast enough This was done either by “kicking” it or operating a lever they would dig a hole and set a wheel into the ground elevated the wheel to the height of the seated potter The kick-wheel method used in southern China employed a heavy wheel formed of fired clay held together with matted plant material and set on an axis on the floor Wu places the clay in the center of the wheel he sets his free foot on the outer rim and starts to turn the wheel building a momentum that is maintained by the wheel’s sheer weight He then sits down and starts throwing the pot When the momentum fades and the wheel slows down he stands again and repeats the kicking process He completes a medium-sized pot in two minutes That’s not to say the technique isn’t hard work potters would be using the kick wheel like that The energy-intensive nature of the work aside there are many other reasons to doubt the need to pass on these old methods Wu himself admits the technology is obsolete “It’s not like everything I make is thrown on the kick wheel Wu answers in the negative when I ask if using the kick wheel method gives a potter a competitive edge “Business people aren’t interested in whether an object is beautiful You only make money from pots if you can make them in bulk,” he says Wu thinks that it is about more than commercial viability “The old ways do have an artistry about them,” he says while nowadays many wares are made using prepared molds “they just don’t have the same kind of feeling.” Wu is well aware of how Yingge itself has changed — he saw his own father’s work evolve He has seen how commercial realities have transformed the industry of his own ancestral town he knows full well the importance of keeping production costs down and output up Yingge Town Artisan is a monthly photographic and historical exploration of the artists and potters linked to New Taipei City’s Yingge Town.