The Lion Awakens in the East

[First “Beijing Youth Creative Writing Program for Realistic Web Fiction”] [Intangible Cultural Heritage] [Second “Discovering Intangible Cultural Heritage Through Reading” Theme Writing Contest] [Preserving Tradition Through Innovation] [The Power of Youth] [Baizhifang Northern Lion Dance of Beijing] [Foshan Southern Lion Dance] [Martial Arts] [Overseas Chinese] [A Sense of Ethnic Belonging] [Ensemble Cast]

A sports-talented student from a drifting Beijing family returns to their hometown; a self-reliant young lion dancer; a landlady unaware of her own wealth; and an overseas Chinese person returning from Malaysia. They all encounter the people fate has chosen for them...

Leaping atop high poles and the everyday warmth of life on the ground: how will they overcome society’s prejudice against all-female lion dance troupes? How will they balance the cultural conflict between competitive sports and traditional athletics? And how will they protect the Southern Lion Dance and restore the Northern Lion Dance to its former glory?

Or perhaps simply recover their memories and sense of self?

Driven by friendship, family ties, romance, homesickness, and bonds between teachers and students, where will these young people go? And where will they lead lion dancing and their own futures?