During this year's Spring Festival season, Chen Luofei barely had a day off.

The 23-year-old member of the Hemu Yingge Dance Team in Shantou spent weeks moving from one event to another — performing in parks, appearing at government-organized celebrations, and joining traditional processions across the Chaoshan region.

Located on the southeastern coast of Guangdong province, Chaoshan — which includes the cities of Shantou, Chaozhou, and Jieyang — is known for its strong clan traditions and well-preserved folk customs.

Spring Festival celebrations here feature a wide range of activities, from Yingge dance and dragon and lion dances to elaborate ceremonies honoring local deities. These folk festivities typically begin in mid-to-late December on the lunar calendar and continue throughout the first lunar month, which lasts until March 18 this year.

For Chen and his teammates, that means a packed schedule of performances.

One of the highlights came on Feb 21, when Chen led his troupe in the Yingge Carnival in Shantou, marking the 20th anniversary of Yingge dance being listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. The 2.3-kilometer parade route brought together dozens of Yingge troupes, making it the largest Yingge dance exhibition ever held in China.

Chen joined the troupe in 2017 when he was just 13 years old. Over the past decade, he has grown from an enthusiastic young learner into the team's vice captain, coach, and manager.

Chen's team currently includes two male squads with about 150 members in total, along with a female squad of around 100. Most performers are between 18 and their early 20s.

Beyond performances, the team also brings Yingge dance into local schools, introducing the tradition to younger generations.

"Many kids develop a genuine passion for it and then sign up to join our team," Chen said. "It's also a great way for them to stay active and spend less time on their phones. Passing on this tradition should start young."