STORY: Vlog: Traditional Tibetan dance brims with vitality in China's Xizang
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 12/17, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 19, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:30
LOCATION: LHASA, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the locals dancing in a park in Lhasa
2. STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of the park in Lhasa
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
9. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
10. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
11. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
12. SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
13. SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
14. SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
15. SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
16. SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
17. SOUNDBITE 14 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
18. STANDUP 2 (English): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
19. SOUNDBITE 15 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
20. SOUNDBITE 16(Chinese): Tourist
21. SOUNDBITE 17(Chinese): Tourist
22. SOUNDBITE 18 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
23. SOUNDBITE 19 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
24. SOUNDBITE 20 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
25. SOUNDBITE 21 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
26. SOUNDBITE 22 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"I am now in a city park just behind the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The park enjoys hot atmosphere even in freezing winter. Follow me to check out why."

"It's nine o'clock in the morning. And we can see that many locals have gathered here, ready to enjoy their special square dance, the Guozhuang. Let's try to interview one of them and get more details."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"Sir, you are here preparing for the Guozhuang dance later, right?"

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Yes."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"How long have you been dancing here?"

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"I have danced Guozhuang for over 20 years. I am 68 years old now. "

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"If it rains or snows in Lhasa, will you still dance here?"

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Yes, we will. When it rains heavily and the plaza is submerged by water, we'll dance in an area nearby. Anyway, we dance every day all year round."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"Are there so many people dancing here every day?"

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Yes, there are so many people dancing every day."

SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"What kind of Guozhuang are you dancing?"

SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"We dance the Guozhuang styles from seven places from Xizang. This is our folk culture and we should carry it forward.

SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"So people used to dance Guozhuang only during festivals before, but now you dance every day, right?

SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Yes. Every day."

SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"I got it. So could you please teach me a little bit of Guozhuang dance?"

SOUNDBITE 14 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Sure."

STANDUP 2 (English): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"Guozhuang means circle dance in Tibetan, which is a favorite collective bonfire dance of Tibetans. And it has developed into a popular square dance in the region. Not only in this park, the dance style is seen in every community in the city, which locals practice as a bodybuilding exercise and also a way to express their love to the traditional culture.
From their smiling faces, we can know that they really enjoy a happy life here with the Tibetan traditional cultures well preserved. Their passion has also attracted tourists to join them."

SOUNDBITE 15 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"Hello. Are you learning how to dance Guozhuang?"

SOUNDBITE 16 (Chinese): Tourist
"Yes."

SOUNDBITE 17 (Chinese): Tourist
"We just saw a bunch of people dancing in the square, then we don't feel like leaving."

SOUNDBITE 18 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"How do you feel now? Do you feel warm?"

SOUNDBITE 19 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Warm and refreshed."

SOUNDBITE 20 (Chinese): HUANG ZHIQI, Xinhua correspondent
"I noticed your Tibetan outfits look amazing. Do you always put on such stylish clothes when you dance?"

SOUNDBITE 21 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Yes. It makes us dancers feel more energetic."

SOUNDBITE 22 (Chinese): TASHI DONDRUP, Lhasa resident
"Welcome to the Guozhuang dance experience!"

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lhasa, China.
(XHTV)