In July 2026, the weeklong Guangdong's overseas cultural promotion campaign brought Lingnan culture to life across the US East Coast, with events ranging from performances on the prestigious stages of Lincoln Center to the "Crossroads of the World" at Times Square, gatherings with overseas Chinese communities in Chinatown, and tourism promotion activities at American Dream Mall in New Jersey.

The vast majority of the audience members were international visitors, yet they were captivated by the vibrant appeal of Lingnan culture, with cheers and applause nearly drowning out the sounds of passing traffic. Zhao Weibin, a national representative inheritor of Guangdong lion dance, said the goal was not simply to put intangible cultural heritage on display, but to bring it to life through storytelling and choreographed fusion.

The key to bringing traditions to life lies in turning audiences from spectators into participants. After each performance, the artists set aside time for interactive activities, personally teaching audiences how to perform Yingge Dance and lion dance. During a grand parade in Chinatown, Tina, a Chinese American who grew up in the United States and whose family traces its roots to Chaoshan, said excitedly, "It was so special and so exciting! I hope more performances like this can help more Americans discover our culture."

Li Junhao, a representative inheritor of Puning Yingge dance, said Chinese community organizations in and around New York have been discussing how to establish local Yingge groups and offering long-term training programs. From being seen to being remembered, and eventually becoming part of local life — when culture enters communities and overseas audiences become participants, culture is no longer something distant or unfamiliar, but a tangible way of life.

从林肯中心到时代广场，广东文旅怎样以岭南文化群像“燃动”美东？

2026年7月，为期一周的“广东文旅海外行”文化交流之旅，从林肯中心的殿堂级舞台到时代广场“世界的十字路口”，从唐人街的侨胞相聚到新泽西美国梦购物中心的文旅推介，在北美东岸掀起了一股强劲的“岭南风”。

现场绝大多数是外国观众，却被这股岭南雄风“征服”，欢呼声、掌声几乎盖过街头的车流声。广东醒狮国家级代表性传承人赵伟斌说，这次不是把非遗“搬出来展览”，而是用故事和融合编排让它“活起来”。

“活起来”的关键，在于让观众从看客变成参与者。每场演出后，艺术团都特意预留了互动环节，手把手教观众跳英歌、舞醒狮。在唐人街的盛大巡游中，祖籍潮州、在美国长大的华人Tina在现场激动地说：“好特别、好精彩！希望日后多一些这样的表演能让美国人看到。”

据普宁英歌代表性传承人李俊浩透露，纽约及周边地区的华人社团已经在探讨如何在当地组建英歌队伍、开展长期教学传承。从“被看见”到“被记住”，再到“被留下来”——当文化走进街头社区，当海外观众变成参与者，文化便不再是“他者”，而成为可感知、可触摸的生活方式。

文 | 记者 黎存根 周欣怡
图 | 主办方提供
译 | 魏薇
英文审校 | 曾敏