A recent survey carried out in Shanghai reveals that locals are willing to lend full support to public square dancing.

Group dancing in squares, parks, and other public spaces has become a favorite pastime for local middle-aged and retired women across the country in recent years. Many approach it as a creative and entertaining way to stay in shape and socialize at the same time.

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Public square dancing is generally carried out in the evenings and can go on late into the night, and the amplified music has been a source of controversy and annoyance for many nearby residents in recent years.

However, a recent survey has shown that music from group dancing is not in fact at the top of most resident's lists when it comes to irritating noise pollution.

Over 1,000 respondents over the age of 13 took part in the survey and pointed to house decorating, vehicles, and shopping mall loudspeakers as the most bothersome noises while relatively few viewed public square dancing as a significant annoyance.

In total, house decorating accounted for 35.1 percent of irksome noise pollution, vehicles as 16.2 percent, shopping mall speakers as 12.3 percent, and group dancing as a mere 8.6. percent.

The report further stated that 75 percent of residents supported public square dancing, and 73 percent of young locals were willing to lend their support to the pastime.

The surprising numbers may be due in part to the belief that group dancing is good for mental and physical health and also offers opportunities for elderly people to foster social groups and help ward of loneliness.

A few who opposed public square dancing pointed to the noise levels, the monopolization of public space, and the over-indulgence in the pastime as reasons for why it is a disturbance to local harmony.

Tagsshanghai group dancing, shanghai public square dancing, shanghai noise pollution