"I used to never know what to do after work, but after experiencing swing dancing, I realized this city has such a trendy, niche side. Now, what I look forward to most is the weekend ball." Du Huishu, a 29-year-old office worker, said to the reporter with a smile as she adjusted her skirt. Recently, reporters visited several entertainment venues in our city and found that emerging cultural activities such as swing dance, board games, and live music performances are becoming core choices for Lanzhou's youth to enrich their lives and enjoy leisure and social interactions. These diverse cultural experiences not only fill the gap in local youth trend culture but also enhance youth's sense of belonging to the city through vivid participation and strong emotional resonance, becoming an important "soft power" for Lanzhou to retain young talent. From "searching for passion" to "rooting in the city," a mutual journey of youth and the city is quietly unfolding in Jincheng.
From a niche hobby to a new social favorite
Swing dance "Making friends through dance" solidifies the city's belonging
At 7 p.m., jazz music slowly began in the Qilihe Dawn Art Center performance hall, warm yellow lights shone across the center of the dance floor, and nearly 30 young people dressed in vintage costumes spun and tapped to lively rhythms—this was the regular dance party held by the "Swing Lanzhou" Dance Troupe, and a joyful haven for young people to relieve stress and enrich their leisure time.
"Dancing is so much fun—I can make new friends and relieve stress." Du Huishu, a post-90s girl from Longnan, joined the provincial procuratorate two years ago through selection and is now a devoted fan of swing dance. She told reporters that attending the ball helped her meet like-minded partners, gradually built a stable social circle, and developed a strong sense of belonging in Lanzhou.
At the dance venue, as the music started, everyone couldn't help but smile. After one dance, the barriers of identity and distance were broken, and everyone shared amusing stories and exchanged dance skills amid laughter and joy.
"I founded this dance troupe to bring this happiness to more young people in Lanzhou." In 2023, organizer Zhao Keke founded "Swing Lanzhou," introducing swing dance to Jincheng. "I discovered and fell in love with swing dance while studying in Wuhan for graduate studies. After graduation, I returned to Lanzhou to find that this entertainment activity, beloved by young people in first-tier cities, was still a local gap. So they tried holding their first ball, and unexpectedly, the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Originally expected to have over 20 people, more than 50 came, most of whom were young people just starting work in Lanzhou. ”
Today, "Swinging Lanzhou" has held over a hundred balls, with over ten thousand participants. Its fan base continues to grow, and even dancers from Lanzhou from other regions have come back specifically to participate. "With such a platform in our hometown, we feel a sense of belonging. No matter how far we go, we want to come back and jump around." Wang Hao, a Lanzhou dancer working in Shenzhen, took special leave to attend the ball, speaking with pride.
A "stress-relief sanctuary" for young people
Board games unlock new leisure fun through immersive social interaction
Besides the viral popularity of retro swing dance, relaxed, free, and low-pressure board game socializing has also become one of the most mainstream leisure activities for Lanzhou's youth today. Light social scenarios such as script murder games, card board games, and reasoning board games, with their immersive experiences and strong interactivity, precisely meet the stress relief and social needs of contemporary youth, and are found throughout major business districts and youth gathering areas in Lanzhou.
Inside the board game hall, young people are playing a board game called "Word Turnaround."
Mr. Tian, born in 1997, is the owner of a board game experience center and a native of Lanzhou. "When I was studying abroad, I loved playing board games. Back then, I thought it would be great if Lanzhou had a place like this." After returning to China, Mr. Tian targeted a market gap and partnered with friends to open this board game shop, carefully selecting nearly 1,400 board game titles. "Young people's entertainment needs have long changed; they no longer like drinking or card games, but instead prefer mental battles and immersive experiences that relieve stress and make friends." ”
Inside, the reporter saw that even on weekday evenings, the venue was still packed, with friends arriving together as well as strangers met through carpooling. "Work is fast-paced and stressful, so playing board games is my best way to relieve stress." An Hao, a post-95 youth working in office work in Lanzhou, told reporters, "The monotony of home life can easily cause internal friction. Being immersed in board games can briefly escape the pressures of reality, while also meeting like-minded young people and finding suitable communities and playmates. Now I increasingly feel that Lanzhou is gradually becoming my hometown." ”
Reporters learned that the local board game format in Lanzhou is becoming increasingly mature, with customers mainly being young people aged 18 to 32. The store continuously updates scripts and gameplay to balance newcomer experience with advanced needs. This lightweight and highly inclusive cultural and entertainment activity is quietly changing the lifestyle of Lanzhou's youth—where everyone relaxes, makes close friends, and gains warmth and friendship amid laughter and joy.
A "vibrant platform" for self-expression
Live performances allow for close-up interaction and encounters with shared passion
At 9 p.m., the Lanzhou Dawn Art Performance Center was dazzlingly lit. Famous singer Zhang Qiang stood center stage, enthusiastically interacting with the audience, with cheers and chorus deafening. Young people wave glow sticks, swinging freely to the melody, their faces full of passion and boldness. Reporters' investigations found that in recent years, more and more well-known singers have come to Lanzhou, local independent bands have been rising, and live music performances have become important stages for Lanzhou youth to express their passion and self-expression, making the city more vibrant.
"I really enjoy watching performances, but I used to go to Xi'an, Chengdu, and even Beijing. Now I have Lanzhou too, so I don't have to travel out of town anymore." He Wei, a 28-year-old music enthusiast, was holding up his camera to record the scene. "This time when Zhang Qiang came to Lanzhou to perform, I had to wait a long time to get tickets. The atmosphere was so electrifying—Lanzhou's cultural and entertainment activities are getting richer and richer!" ”
Chen Pinming, head of the Poxiao Art Center, told reporters that in recent years, Lanzhou's youth have increasingly demanded live performances. "Every year, we invite well-known singers and bands to perform, and tickets are almost always sold out." He noted that most of the audience are young people aged 18 to 35. "They come here not just to watch performances, but to release emotions and find resonance." Many people meet like-minded friends through performances and even form their own bands. ”
Reporter's note
During a period of interviews, the reporter deeply felt that emerging youth cultural activities such as swing dance and board games not only enrich the leisure life of Lanzhou's youth but also build an emotional bridge between youth and the city. They align with young people's aesthetics and needs, allowing them to feel the city's inclusiveness and warmth in the process of searching for passion and cultivating interests, and thus truly willing to stay.
Urban development depends on the participation of young people; The growth of young people also needs the nourishment of the city. As Zhao Keke, the founder of "Swinging Lanzhou," said: "We are not trying to create an unattainable culture; we just want to give Lanzhou youth more choices, so they can find their passions in this city, gain friendship and a sense of belonging, and be willing to stay and grow together with this city." ”
It is believed that as the youth cultural market continues to expand, more cultural activities tailored to young people's needs will enter Lanzhou, making this ancient Jincheng a shining city where more young people are willing to stay, settle, and grow together. (Reporter Chang Yajin)