Lion dance competition is held in Guangzhou.

On July 13, lion dance teams from major cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Johor, Malaysia, captivated a large crowd of tourists and lion dance enthusiasts at the Central Pavilion Square of Guangzhou Cultural Center. The high-stakes lion dance competition showcased skills even more intense than the summer heat.

Youth lion dance teams from Guangzhou, Foshan, Hong Kong, and Macao participated in the competition, with a special invitation extended to elite teams from Malaysia by Guangzhou Dragon and Lion Dance Association.

Accompanied by the thunderous beats of drums and gongs, the agile "lions" performed on various heights of plum blossom poles, each move brimming with elegance and vitality. Spectators erupted in awe and applause each time a "young lion" completed a series of fluid and high-difficulty maneuvers on the poles.

The event left Raphael, a lion dance enthusiast from Italy, in awe. He traveled to Guangzhou with his team from Weisong School, a martial arts school in Italy founded by the Chinese, specifically to participate in this lion dance activity. "I've been fascinated by Chinese kung fu movies since childhood," Raphael told reporters.

"I started learning dragon dance, lion dance, and fish dance at the martial arts school when I was ten. I have performed lion and dragon dances on the streets during Chinese New Year in Italy and Belgium. These performances not only showcase the charm of Chinese culture but also bring people joy," Raphael said.