China will hold a national dragon dance contest on December 17-19 to mark Macao's return to the motherland on December 20.

A park designed in the style of ancient Chinese architecture, located 50 km from Beijing in Xianghe County, Hebei Province, has been selected as the site for the contest, the largest of its kind in China.

Organizers say the park, dubbed the "first town under the sun," will also be the site for the country's millennium gala activities.

Over 2,000 folk artists from a dozen municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions nationwide will bring a variety of 200 and stage colorful performances.

The dragons will be playing and competing with each other in various styles, and some 15 gold medals and 16 silver medals will be awarded to the winners.

Dragon dancing is a popular form of entertainment among Chinese all over the world, and dragon dance performances will also take place at the evening gala in Tiananmen Square on December 19.

(Xinhua)