Ancient City of Pingyao kicks up a storm at street dance event

The Second Pingyao International Street Dance Competition and the Fourth BDS World Youth Street Dance Competition ignite the Ancient City of Pingyao. [Photo/Pingyao Rong Mei] 

The Second Pingyao International Street Dance Competition and the Fourth BDS World Youth Street Dance Competition were held in the Ancient City of Pingyao in North China's Shanxi province on Aug 18-20, sparking a collision between street dance and ancient culture. 

Over 1,000 street dance enthusiasts gathered in the ancient city, flashing the latest subcultural trends and injecting fresh vitality into this historic site. 

Organized by the Shanxi Street Dance League of the China Dancers Association's Street Dance Committee, the event consisted of competitions for adults and young people from various countries in popping, locking, breaking, hip-hop, breaking crew battles, and group dances. 

The production team incorporated a wide range of culinary, cultural and historical elements from Pingyao into the competition site and theme songs. 

A young dancer flashes his skills during the street dance event in Pingyao. [Photo/Shanxi Economic Daily]

To enhance the experience for tourists, four interaction and photo zones were set up, which drew large crowds. 

"I want to showcase the inclusiveness of this ancient city in a youthful way. Using street dance as a medium for cultural exchanges and promoting cultural confidence is what we have been striving for," said Cheng Pengju, the event organizer.

In recent years, Pingyao has built a slew of influential cultural brands such as the Pingyao International Film Festival, Pingyao International Photography Festival, and Pingyao Chinese New Year celebration, and introduced tech shows, light displays, and hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) parades, all of which have been enthusiastically welcomed by the younger generation. 

By hosting this latest event, Pingyao aimed to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between global youth in the culture, tourism, and sports fields, narrowing the gap between Pingyao and the world. It presents the Ancient City of Pingyao as a vibrant and dynamic destination full of energy for people from all over the world.