Square dancers jostle in national competition in Lijiang

Square dancing teams from across the country went head to head with each other on the stage at the Dongba Mysterious Realm in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan province on March 30.

The contest was the first round of this year's national square dancing championship, which aims to help the exercise craze among senior citizens shake off its poor reputation by organizing competitions in more than 500 cities over six months.

The organizing committee of the event said that the competition is an attempt to combine leisure tourism with health care by making it a six-day tour from Kunming, Dali to Lijiang, allowing visitors to experience themed traveling and local health care advantages.

A square dancing team goes on stage at the Dongba Mysterious Realm in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan province on March 30. [Photo by Zhang Yongqiang/yn.xinhuanet.com]

The Dongba Mysterious Realm scenic zone said that it combines local natural scenery and unique ethnic cultures. The competition is seen as the zone's first step in the transformation and upgrading of local tourism.

The competition is divided into four rounds; the next one will be held on April 10. Registration is in teams with 10 to 25 participants each.

Each round of the competition will award the champion, runner-up and second runner-up with prizes range from 5,000 to 10,000 yuan ($795.20 to 1,590.50) in cash.

A square dancing team wearing Naxi ethnic costumes performs a unique show at the Dongba Mysterious Realm in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan province on March 30. [Photo by Zhang Yongqiang/yn.xinhuanet.com]