Intl. Gen Zers connect with Chinese culture through Yingge Dance

Video and photos by Lin Jianping

On a bright afternoon of Jan. 18 at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, a unique cultural collaboration came to life.

The campus of Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen (HITSZ) in Nanshan District.

Six international Gen Zers joined six middle school students from Shenzhen Longhua Innovative Experimental School to perform Yingge Dance, a centuries-old tradition recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Interntional Gen Zers from HITSZ donning Yingge Dance costumes and holding twin red batons pose for a photo Jan. 18.

Dressed in vibrant costumes and holding twin red batons, the 12 performers moved in powerful, synchronized rhythm to the driving percussion. Their performance was not merely a display of dance, but a dynamic embodiment of Chinese folklore.

Interntional Gen Zers practice Yingge Dance, a centuries-old tradition originating from Guangdong's Chaoshan area.

“We’re performing as Water Margin heroes,” explained Min Thiha Aung from Myanmar. "To me, it’s more than just a dance — it’s about formation. When the music started and we found a shared rhythm, it made us feel more and more powerful. This is how a culture is kept alive across centuries.”

Interntional Gen Zers and Chinese students from Shenzhen Longhua Innovative Experimental School during the rehearsal.

The event marked the culmination of a two-month cultural project in which international students studied the history of Yingge Dance before undertaking two weeks of intensive rehearsal.

The program aimed not only to teach the dance’s movements but also to foster meaningful exchange between Chinese and foreign youth.

The students exchange during the rehearsal.

“The significance of this project lies in connection,” said Mariam Mansoor, the project leader from Pakistan. “It has connected us to Chinese artistic traditions, brought together students from different cultural backgrounds and age groups, and showed us how we can share and preserve such heritage in today’s world.”

For many participants, mastering the dance meant more than memorizing steps.

Interntional Gen Zers practice Yingge Dance.

“The hardest part was making the movements feel natural. It wasn’t just about the steps — it was about expressing the right emotion through every gesture. There was a moment during the performance when I truly connected with the music, and I realized this isn’t just a dance. It’s a way of conveying history, emotion, and passion in a form that words alone cannot capture,” said Zaheur Hanan from Morocco.

A local middle school student and an international Gen Zer pose for a photo with a cardboard with information about Yingge Dance.

Originating in Guangdong’s Chaoshan region, Yingge Dance is traditionally performed during Chinerse New Year celebrations. Its vigorous movements and rhythmic intensity symbolize courage and communal spirit.

“I’ve learned that Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and symbolizes renewal — it’s also called the Spring Festival. If I could bring a piece of this back home, it would be a Yingge Dance costume, because learning this in Shenzhen has made me feel truly connected to the Chinese culture. It fills me with passion. I really love it,” said Edou Kelly David Adriana from Cameroon.

Source: Shenzhen Daily