China considers legal changes to curb noise pollution from the country’s notorious dancing grannies
- China’s dancing grannies meet in public places to exercise and socialise and dance to loud music
- Increasing complaints about the noise pollution they create now has the government considering new regulations
China is considering regulating the country’s notorious square-dancing grannies including introducing fines and penalties in a series of amendments to legislation aimed at curbing noise pollution, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
While public square dancing is not the only focus of the curbs, the controversial practice has been a constant source of tension in China in recent years. Elderly dancers are a common sight in public parks, squares and plazas in China at dusk or dawn, where groups of retirees dance in unison to what is often described as deafeningly loud music.
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A 62-year-old square-dancer surnamed Long told the South China Morning Post she has not yet heard anything about the regulation, but was not concerned.
“If they won’t let us dance, we’ll figure out something else then,” she said.
Amendments to existing noise pollution law from 1997 are currently before the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative branch.
Entertainment and exercise in public places would be required to observe rules restricting the places and times they can perform. Anyone in breach of the new rules could be fined from 200 to 500 yuan (US$30 to $77).