TAIYUAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20,000 people participated in a line dance Tuesday morning in north China's Shanxi Province, setting a world record for largest line dance.

After 10 rehearsals, 20,000 people performed at around 8:20 a.m. in a square in the city of Datong. The dance lasted five minutes and participants lined up in rows and executed synchronized movements.

The World Record Certification Agency verified on site and declared the event the largest line dance ever.

The event organizer said that the 20,000 participants came from Shanxi, Shandong and Henan provinces and cities including Beijing and Tianjin.

Line dancing originated in America in the 1970s, and was introduced to China later. It has been adapted by Chinese dancers and is now a popular activity for a growing number of Chinese. Enditem