A cultural performance was held by Chengdong Street community in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on July 4 in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The performance also served as a call to protect the local dialect.

“Nowadays, children can speak Mandarin and English, but not the dialect of their hometown,” said Qin Fei, a performer at the activity.

Qin stressed the fundamental importance of local dialects and said that they play a significant role in the transmission of local cultures.

Li Buying, a local in her 80s, shared her views on the Nantong dialect at the event, saying that respecting the dialect in turn shows respect for the city itself.

During the activity, Xu Zhi, a representative of local overseas Chinese, recounted Nantong’s achievements over the past four decades of reform and opening-up, earning her a thunderous applause from the audience.

Women dressed in qipao, an iconic body-hugging Chinese dress, perform in their local dialect during a cultural activity in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on July 4. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Women dance during a cultural activity in Nantong on July 4. [Photo/ntfabu.com]