2019 Xiqiao Mountain Lion King Competition Concludes Successfully

Lion dance performances featuring qing (greens) picking, water obstacle courses, and dazzling dragon dances with creative routines… On October 6, the 15th "Huang Feihong Cup" World Chinese Lion King Competition and the Water Lion Challenge—the 2019 edition—concluded successfully at Tianhu Park on Xiqiao Mountain.

　　This year, the Shenzhen Bao’an District Xixiang Haoye Huang Liansheng Lion Dance Troupe won the gold medal in the high-pole Southern Lion category, while the Dongguan Shipai Mingde Lion Dance Troupe and the Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Dance Team took home the gold in the water-flying lion and dragon dance categories respectively. The Nanhai District Guoding Martial Arts Dragon & Lion Troupe and the Nanhai Xiqiao Ruigao Plaza Dragon & Lion Troupe secured gold medals in the obstacle Southern Lion and speed Southern Lion categories. Gu Yaohui, Deputy Secretary of the Nanhai District Committee and District Chief, attended the event and presented awards to the gold, silver, and bronze-winning lion teams in the high-pole Southern Lion division.

　　Innovative Moves Made the Competition More Exciting

　　The competition began with the speed Southern Lion event, where participating teams had to demonstrate skilled techniques to complete a set of Southern Lion routines within a designated area as quickly as possible. Required moves included standing shoulder-to-shoulder on flat ground to pick hanging greens from a height and spit them out, and ascending a high platform to bend and pick greens beneath the platform before spitting them out.

　　Zhang Weijian, the head lion dancer of the gold-medal winning Nanhai Xiqiao Ruigao Plaza Dragon & Lion Troupe in the speed Southern Lion category, said he was initially worried about successfully picking the greens due to the strict rules, so he performed every move with extra caution. Building on that, he and his partner worked seamlessly to maximize their speed, ultimately achieving this unexpected great result. This outcome has greatly boosted their confidence, and they plan to continue competing in the national championships in this category.

　　In the high-pole Southern Lion competition, many teams showcased original moves, such as directly ascending higher poles “like climbing a mountain” or having the tail-end performer “swinging like a swing,” which were truly eye-catching. Li Weijun, leader of the gold-medal winning Shenzhen Bao’an District Xixiang Haoye Huang Liansheng Lion Dance Troupe, explained that they specially designed a move for this competition involving leaping from a two-meter-high pole, kicking, and then hanging onto the pole. They had been practicing the entire routine for a month and ultimately won the championship with steady performance.

　　In the dragon dance competition, the Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Dance Team scored 9.14 points to win the gold medal. The final event was the water-flying lion finals, contested between the Dongguan Shipai Mingde Lion Dance Troupe and the Guangdong Yongli Group Zhongshan Xiaolan Yongning Dragon & Lion Troupe. Both teams were very cautious during segments like crossing iron cable bridges, broken bridge formations, stepping on broken poles, and navigating the “Take It Easy” formation. Once they stepped onto the competition stage, just ten seconds after the whistle blew, the Dongguan Shipai Mingde Lion Dance Troupe’s lion swiftly pushed their opponents into the water—a quick and decisive victory.

　　Promoting the Exchange and Inheritance of Lion and Dragon Culture

　　Yesterday, a “team of women”—the Hubei University Dragon & Lion Troupe—caught the audience’s attention. When they performed the dragon dance, a group of special spectators cheered loudly for them, shouting “Huda, go!” These spectators were none other than their competitors—the Wuhan Sports University Dragon & Lion Troupe from China. Tang Yifan, a member of the Wuhan Sports University Dragon & Lion Troupe, explained that they often encounter each other in competitions, frequently exchange ideas, and have a good relationship. He also said that competing in Xiqiao for the first time not only allowed them to experience Foshan’s Southern Lion and kung fu culture but also gave them the opportunity to interact with international dragon and lion teams, broadening their horizons.

　　Li Weijun also mentioned that this competition can be seen as an excellent platform for exchange, and he hopes to participate here again in the future, looking forward to meeting more formidable opponents to learn and improve together.

　　From the perspective of Li Runfu, coach of the Hongquan Lion Dance Team under the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Dragon & Lion Association, lion dance—as an important aspect of Chinese cultural heritage—is a bond among Chinese people and plays a significant role in diplomatic relations. He is even more pleased to see that people’s appreciation for lion dance culture is growing stronger year by year.

　　After more than 10 years of development, the Xiqiao Mountain Lion King Competition has become the world’s largest lion dance sports tourism event in terms of scale, participant quality, and audience attendance. The competition has promoted exchanges among lion and dragon dance teams and helped more people understand and carry on lion and dragon culture.