A recent round of the National Mountain Bike Championships opened in a unique way when a large crowd of tourists and spectators were treated to a performance of the Yao people's traditional "monkey dance".

A group of Yao people performed the dance in Nandan county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on March 11, as part of the championship's opening ceremony.

Yao people dance at the opening ceremony of the National Mountain Bike Championship in Nandan county on March 11. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/hcwang.cn]

Wearing masks and red ribbons around their wastes, the dancers performed in a circle, with the leading dancer in the center. Playing fur and copper drums, the dancers imitated monkeys' gestures and movements.

The dance show, normally put on at major events and Yao festivals, marked the start of the third round of the bike championships, which was held in Nandan county for the first time. It is the most important cycling event in China.

Yao people dance at the opening ceremony of the National Mountain Bike Championship in Nandan county on March 11. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/hcwang.cn]

The monkey dance, a cultural relic, is in danger of disappearing. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014, for its unique characteristics that deserve protection.