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Chinese square dancing or "guangchang wu" is a popular way to exercise in open spaces, including squares, plazas, and parks. It is especially popular with senior citizens, mostly middle-aged and retired women called "dama." But the dance is no longer exclusive to grandmothers. China's upcoming 13th National Games has added square dancing as a competition.

The 13th National Games will be held from August 27 to September 8 in Tianjin. This year a number of mass sports competitions were added, including badminton, marathon, Go, Tai Chi, and square dancing.

Bai Xue, who has been square dancing for eight years and heads the square dancing team in Beijing's Haidian District, said it has improved her health and even lifted her spirit.

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People can register for the competition and vote on their favorite performances online and there is an app as well as a WeChat account for the square dancing competition, according to Wang Shuxing, one of the people in charge of the contest, adding that it took over a month to develop. Some 100 square dancing teams have already uploaded their performance videos and registered.

The square dancing teams are judged differently, they must be voted up by netizens to move on. To avoid cheating, the organizing committee requires voters to register with real names and mobile phone numbers, and accounts that do cheat will be shut down. Only teams who win the hearts of netizens can take part in the final competition in Tianjin.