Sport and geography have always been inextricably linked. Mountains and plains, horseback archery, rivers, lakes and seas... The vast land of China has given birth to a variety of sports activities, and the splendid Chinese civilization has nourished the rich and colorful Chinese sports culture. Civilization its spirit, barbarism its body. Today, sport has become an important means of promoting the all-round development of the human person. The "Sports Geography" column takes you all over the east, west, south and north of the motherland, and appreciates the unique charm of Chinese sports culture from the perspective of human geography.
We came to Guangdong, located in the south of the motherland
Guangdong is the birthplace of Lingnan culture
A long tradition of celebration and colorful festivals
It is a splendid touch of folk culture here
It is also a unique human geographical landscape
On the occasion of the Chinese New Year
Please follow us to the South China Sea of Guangdong
Experience the indispensable "awakening lion" in festive celebrations
On January 13, 2023, in the South China Sea Dali Huangfeihong Zhonglian Dragon and Lion Training Base, the lion troupe danced in front of the giant lion head, known as the "world lion king".
On January 24, 2023, during the Spring Festival, the lion troupe performed in Xiqiao Mountain, Nanhai.
Since ancient times, Guangdong lion awakening has been regarded as an auspicious thing to ward off evil spirits and avoid harm, and every festival or major event will be accompanied by a lion awakening that will be prosperous and prosperous for a long time, passed down from generation to generation.
"The lions of the world wake up, all out of the South China Sea"
Located under the Xiqiao Mountain in Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, Xiqiao Town is known as the "source of dragons and lions, the hometown of Feihong", which is the birthplace of awakening lions and the hometown of "Grandmaster of the Generation" Huang Feihong, and has been rated as "China's famous town of dragons and lions" and "hometown of Chinese folk culture and art (awakening lion)".
The Huang Clan Ancestral Hall in Xiqiao Town is now also the Huang Feihong Lion Art Martial Arts Museum. The lion troupe performs lion awakening skills for visitors here (drone photo, January 12, 2023).
The gray sculpture on the roof of the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall depicts two dancing lions, which is now also the Wong Fei Hung Lion Art Martial Arts Hall, where the lion troupe regularly performs lion awakening for visitors (pictured on January 15, 2023).
From the movie "Huang Feihong: The Lion King Fighting" thirty years ago to the national tide animation "Lion Boy" two years ago, these two movies with the theme of awakening lions in the South China Sea have become popular all over China, and have also made Nanhai, an ancient city in southern Guangdong, famous.
During the 40s and 60s of the 20th century, the lion-awakening elements in the Wong Fei Hung series of films filmed in Hong Kong (stills remake, taken on January 12, 2023).
On January 12, 2023, at the Huang Feihong Lion Art Martial Arts Martial Arts Museum in the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall in Xiqiao, Nanhai, performing lion awakening for tourists has become a fixed reservation here.
Awakening lion, belongs to the southern lion in the Chinese lion dance. Historically, the lion dance was born from the Tang Dynasty court lion dance, and after five generations and ten countries, with the migration of immigrants from the Central Plains to the south, the lion dance culture was introduced to the Lingnan region. During the Ming Dynasty, the awakening lion appeared in Guangdong and originated in the South China Sea. It is now spread among overseas Chinese in Guangdong, Guangxi and Southeast Asian countries; In Guangdong, it is mainly distributed in Foshan, Suixi, Guangzhou and other counties and cities.
On May 3, 2005, after the successful conclusion of the "Huang Feihong Cup" China North and South Lion King Competition, Nanhai Xiqiao held the "100 Lions Parade" in Guanshan District, attracting more than 100,000 people to watch. Xinhua News Agency
The art of Awakening Lion is based on Southern Fist
Dancing with martial arts
A fusion of martial arts, dance, music, etc
On January 13, 2023, at the Nanhai Huang Feihong Zhonglion Training Base, the players were training to awaken lions on high piles. The tall pile lion is a lion that jumps and dances between the rows of piles 2.5 meters high and 1.8 meters wide. On high piles, when the lion-tailed contestant lifts the lion's head over his head to perform the "sitting head" move, the lion's head height will exceed 5 meters.
Nanhai Dali Huangfeihong Zhonglian Dragon and Lion Training Base, players are training high-pile lion awakening (taken on January 13, 2023).
The lion awakening performance is rich in routines
Strong sense of ritual
Full of drama, fun and acrobatics
On January 24, 2023, during the Spring Festival, many tourists watched the Lion Awakening Show on the Water of Tianhu Lake in Xiqiao Mountain, Nanhai (drone photo).
On January 24, 2023, during the Spring Festival, in Xiqiao Mountain, Nanhai, the lion troupe displayed a banner celebrating the New Year.
As an important part of China's excellent traditional culture, Guangdong Lion was selected into the first batch of national representative items of intangible cultural heritage in 2006. In order to inherit and innovate the lion culture, Nanhai has held the "Wong Fei Hong Cup" Lion King Competition for many consecutive years, which is known as the "never-ending lion art feast" by the industry.
On October 1, 2010, in the 2010 "Huang Feihong Cup" 6th World Chinese Lion King Competition held in Tianhu Park, Xiqiaoshan District, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, the participants performed "Soaring Leap" in the high pile lion competition. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Zhi Hong)
On January 13, 2023, at the Nanhai Dali Huangfeihong Zhonglian Dragon and Lion Training Base, children took a break in the "Lion Sea". They came from Conghua District, Guangzhou, to learn about lions.
On January 13, 2023, at the Nanhai Dali Huangfeihong Zhonglion Training Base, a group of teenagers from Conghua District of Guangzhou followed the coach to build high piles.
In the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall in Xiqiao Town, Nanhai, which is also the Wong Fei Hung Lion Art Martial Arts Museum, the lion troupe has long performed lion awakening for tourists (photographed on January 12, 2023). The plaque is hung high above the performance area.
From folk customs to modern competitive competitions
The incense of traditional culture lies in the inheritance and innovation of Nanhai people
It is continued and revitalized
On January 12, 2023, the lion head of the "Lion King", which is 4.68 meters high and 4.5 meters wide, was invited to the Xiqiao Mountain Memorial Arch.
Huang Feihong Lion Art Martial Arts Museum master and apprentice light incense at the Xiqiao Mountain Memorial Arch.
The crowd watched the lion head of the "Lion King" lion head (drone photo) at the Xiqiaoshan Memorial Arch at the Huang Feihong Lion Art Martial Arts Museum.
Awaken the lion
It means awakening, rejuvenation
In the stretch of history
The vitality of the awakening lion has not diminished
It contains Chinese spirit that is alive and endless
Executive producer: Lan Hongguang Xiao Wenfeng
Planner: Li Ga, Ye Qian, Liao Yujie, Bi Mingming
Reporter: Liu Dawei and Huang Guobao
Editors: Wu Fang, Tao Xiyi, Cao Can, Xia Fangfang, Luo Yuan, Hou Zhaokang, Hu Xingyu
Acknowledgements: Propaganda Department of Nanhai District Committee of Foshan City of the Communist Party of China
Guangdong Social Sports and Training Competition Center
Guangdong Dragon and Lion Sports Association
Xinhua News Agency Photography Department and Xinhua News Agency Guangdong Branch Co-production