Dance prodigy defies her age

A 12-year-old social media sensation charms millions with her Chinese classical performances inspired by ancient culture, Gui Qian reports.

Gu Jinling, a 12-year-old from Beijing, has become a social media influencer with over 2.5 million followers, captivating audiences with her unique Chinese-style costume dances.

Online, Gu goes by the user-name "Gagaling", which conveys the meaning of being "extremely intelligent and highly sensitive "in Chinese.

In her videos, she imitates the flying figures from Dunhuang murals, portrays themes inspired by Tang Dynasty (618-907) figurines, and draws from the Chu Ci, an anthology of poetry from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), using Chinese classical dance to bring legends to life.