THE Shenzhen Yangko Festival is celebrated annually in the city every Nov. 15. More than 3,000 fans of yangko performed at the festival held in the Lianhua Hill Park in Futian District.

    The yangko dance is a traditional folk dance of the Han Chinese, commonly performed in the northern provinces. Yangko dancers usually wear bright and colorful costumes, and their movements are vigorous and quick.

    During holidays such as the Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival, the sound of drums and gongs causes people to swarm into the streets to watch yangko dance performances.

    In recent years, elderly people in China have been organizing themselves into yangko teams, mostly dancing to enjoy themselves while keeping fit all year round. (SD News)