The seventh Tianhe Lion King Competition was held with great fanfare at Zhujiang Park in Tianhe district on Dec 7-8.

It not only celebrated the upcoming 15th National Games through traditional sports but also offered thrilling cultural entertainment for residents and tourists alike.

A 2.3-meter-tall, 8-meter-long dancing lion debuts at the ceremony, its impressive dimensions making it the biggest of its kind in Tianhe. [Photo by Sun Mu/Yangcheng Evening News]

The opening ceremony features a majestic golden dragon spanning over 100 meters. Some 50 team members made it move with grandeur and agility. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

The competition featured three main events – a traditional single lion event, a group lion event, and innovative dragon-lion performances tailored for young participants.

In a departure from tradition, teams were mixed-gender, enhancing the competition's professionalism, entertainment value, and overall engagement.

Additionally, the event introduced a special university ranking category.

A total of 47 representative teams participated in the competition, with 35 teams from Tianhe and other teams hailing from Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and even Xinjiang.

Two lions dance gracefully atop high poles. [Photo by Cai Zhaoxu/Yangcheng Evening News]

A lion leaps into the sky in an exquisite performance. [Photo by Cai Zhaoxu/Yangcheng Evening News]

"In this competition, we aim not only to showcase the formal beauty of the lion dance but also to demonstrate its strength," said Guo Xinxi from the Lion and Dragon Dance Team of South China Normal University.

Guo's team was the only one with female members moving both the head and tail in a single lion. Starting as one of two female members and now proudly performing alongside over 10 female lion dancers, Guo said that she and her teammates had a mission to promote Lingnan culture.

A girl shyly greets a dancing lion during the competition. [Photo by Cai Zhaoxu/Yangcheng Evening News]