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Fran Lu

A group of middle-aged Chinese women have taken square dancing onto a completely new track by doing it on trains.
On July 27, a passenger on a train to Changchun, in northeastern China’s Jilin province, complained that a group of so-called aunties were dancing in the sleeping carriage next to his, disturbing his rest.
He also posted a viral video of the women dancing to loud music and sometimes singing along.
The clip has attracted many critical comments.

One person described them as annoying and having no manners.
Another online observer said: “They should compensate other passengers for causing them mental suffering.”
“It is horrible when people have no shame or sense of boundaries,” said a third person.
Some also took the opportunity to complain about the square-dancing aunties in their neighbourhood.
Aunties who dance to loud music in squares and parks are a special feature of life in China.

Some such groups achieved international fame a decade ago when they performed in front of the Louvre in Paris and Red Square in Moscow.
Many who emigrate from China continue the pastime in other countries.
In 2021, a group of elderly people reportedly square danced every morning in a playground in New York’s Flushing, which has been dubbed “the Chinese Manhattan”, sparking complaints from neighbours.
Even in China, there have been constant rows over the noise they make.
China implemented a revised Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution in 2022.

It set standard noise levels for day and night. People who exceed the controls can face a fine of between 200 and 1,000 yuan (US$28 and US$140).
Square dancing is also banned in many places during important tests such as the national college entrance examination.
It is also not the first time that Chinese aunties have been spotted dancing on trains.
A member of staff with China Railway said they are not allowed to play loud music or dance and disturb other passengers in train carriages.
He advised people to seek help from staff when such disturbances occur.


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Chinese women dance in train aisles, shocking passengers and leading to disturbance warning

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People & Culture

So-called aunties get down in sleeping carriage of the train, singing to loud music as Chinese tradition takes to public transport


So-called aunties get down in sleeping carriage of the train, singing to loud music as Chinese tradition takes to public transport.


China Railway

Chinese women dance in train aisles, shocking passengers and leading to disturbance warning

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}So-called aunties get down in sleeping carriage of the train, singing to loud music as Chinese tradition takes to public transport

So-called aunties get down in sleeping carriage of the train, singing to loud music as Chinese tradition takes to public transport