Women rehearse 'Anti-Japanese' dance in Beijing public square

A group of middle-aged women in Beijing has stepped up the recent controversy surrounding public square dances on Friday with a patriotic number based around the Japanese invasion of China.

Video posted online shows the group dancing in front of Raffles City shopping mall in the city's Dongcheng district.

The group marches in unison to "Tunnel Warfare," a song about the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45). Brandishing toy rifles, the dance ends by forcing a costumed Japanese soldier to surrender at gunpoint, the video revealed.

Participants said the group has been collecting at the shopping mall to practice for the past four years.

A leader with the group said members dance to keep fit, socialize and "cherish old times with friends." The dancers perform in a commercial area so as not to disturb local residents, said the leader.

Popular among Chinese senior citizens, square dancing has stirred up much controversy in recent months for groups blasting loud music during late hours in public spaces.