Guangzhou to ban noisy public dances

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Guangzhou is to ban group dances from certain public areas such as squares after complaints that the loud music annoyed local residents, the Guangzhou-based New Express reported Wednesday.

The move targets guangchangwu, a form of public dance and exercise that is popular among middle-aged and elderly women in China.

New regulations will be issued by the Guangzhou People's Congress in late 2014 to state that no noisy group dances or exercises are allowed to be held in parks or near schools, hospitals, residential buildings or government facilities.

A Guangzhou resident, who was annoyed by the sounds from local guangchangwu dances, told the New Express on condition of anonymity that the group dancers are not only noisy, but also occupy public spaces that should be available for other activities.

The regulation draft says that park administrators have the right to punish those who cause noises through activities such as dancing.

The draft also rules that parks should have areas for activities, and that citizens should not carry out noisy activities in quiet areas, and that violators could face fines of up to 1,000 yuan ($164.2).

Chen Xiaoqing, an official with the Guangzhou legislature, said that there will be a decibel standard to define "noisy activities." Chen also said that the parks have to control the noise created by such group activities and that they will have disputes with some citizens who enjoy such activities, and this is why the regulations need to be more specific.

In an online survey started by Sina Weibo on Wednesday, over 70 percent of nearly 3,000 participants said they support the regulation and that it should be promoted to a national level regulation.

However, 15 percent disapproved, and said it would restrain the exercising activities of elderly people.

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