STORY: Wuqinxi, Huangmei Opera bring the charm of Anhui to Britain  
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 26, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 27, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:13
LOCATION: London 
CATEGORY: CULTURE 

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Wuqinxi
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HUA YI, Inheritor of Wuqinxi
3. various of Wuqinxi
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LEWIS HOWE, Director of Sales, Buxton Crescent Ensana Health Spa Hotel
5. various of Huangmei Opera       

STORYLINE:

Cultural icons from east China's Anhui Province, including Wuqinxi and Huangmei Opera have made a stunning appearance in the spa town of Buxton, Derbyshire, captivating many British spectators.

Wuqinxi, also known as the Five-Animal Exercises, draws inspiration from the movements and postures of the tiger, deer, bear, monkey, and bird. Created by Hua Tuo, one of the most renowned doctors in Chinese history, it is a traditional health-preserving exercise system. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in China, this ancient practice continues to thrive domestically and has gained global recognition, allowing people worldwide to experience its rich tradition.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HUA YI, Inheritor of Wuqinxi
"This is my first time performing in Britain, but I have already traveled to over a dozen countries and regions before. I hope that more people worldwide will see our pride in the rich Chinese traditional culture. Seeing the audience here today, I feel that they are very curious about our traditions. In fact, I hope to engage more people through promotional events like this to share practices in maintaining physical and mental well-being."

In an interactive section, the audience tried to guess which animal her movements represented.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LEWIS HOWE, Director of Sales, Buxton Crescent Ensana Health Spa Hotel
"It's the first time I've ever tried to do the moves and to engage in those. And it'd be really interesting to do more of it, really. I mean just to get that rotation and that movement. And when you're getting into your older ages, you need to keep moving. And the Chinese culture is one of such energetic...And that's because you know you have all of these wonderful cultures behind, that you still believe in and follow."

In addition to Wuqinxi, classic excerpts from Anhui's Huangmei Opera were presented to the British audience, including "The Heavenly Match" and "A Couple Watching Lanterns."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London.
(XHTV)