District bans dancers sound systems

A district in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, has ruled that dancers cannot bring sound equipment to public areas after more than 600 local residents collectively bought an expensive sound amplification system to deter people from dancing near their homes.

Since March, the local residents have been using the amplification equipment to repeatedly broadcast a high-pitched siren to overwhelm the dancers' accompanying music.

The sound fight went on for two days before mediation intervened.

Four parties, including the local residents, the dancers and the district management, agreed to install a central sound system controlled by the public square management staff.

Dancers are allowed to use the central sound system only, with the level of their sound controlled by the public square management staff.

The district will also install central sound systems in other public squares. A businessman living in the district donated 300,000 yuan ($48,360) for the installation.

A growing number of people, mostly retirees, enjoy group dancing and singing in public squares and at parks in cities nationwide. The practice has caused many disputes between the amateur dancers and local residents in recent years.