The fifth Chinese Yangko Festival kicked off in Jiaozhou, a county-level city of Qingdao, Shandong province on Sept 19, with various award-winning performances showcasing the charms of the intangible cultural heritage during its three-day duration.

Yangko is one of the traditional folk dances of China and it is usually performed in the country's northern provinces.

On Sept 20, artists of Jiaozhou yangko teamed up with representatives of dance academies and dance teams to stage performances, after a short presentation of yangko history.

At the same time, a seminar for the traditional folk dances was held, in which the preservation, inheritance, innovation and development of traditional dances was discussed among attendees.

In addition, related cultural activities such as the Jiaozhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition and a folk art exhibition opened to the public. These exhibitions would last for one month, according to the local media.

As the birthplace of yangko and permanent venue of the festival, Jiaozhou has historically endeavored to protect and develop this traditional Chinese folk dance, and it is hoped the festival will benefit the city's historical development.

The fifth Chinese Yangko Festival kicks off in Jiaozhou, a county-level city of Qingdao, Shandong province on Sept 19. [Photo/iqilu.com]

Yangko dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Chinese Yangko Festival. [Photo/toutiao.com]

Yangko dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Chinese Yangko Festival. [Photo/toutiao.com]