The halls come alive with the sound of music
A surprise delight at Hongqiao Airport
Passengers at Shanghai Hongqiao airport were surprised by a flash mob of more than 100 children from the Little Companion Art Troupe of the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace.
The bustling airport turned quiet around 9am on Saturday when the sound of violins and flutes wafted through the air.
The flash mob kids walked into the central hall from every corner, singing the Chinese children's song "Let's Row Our Boats," which is so famous that many passengers began to sing along with the children.
They also carried the national flag and red-scarves, a symbol of China's young pioneers, given out by the children to review their childhood memories.
When drums joined in, the children sang the song for the Chinese Young Pioneers: "We are the Successors of Communism."
The performance reached a climax when they sang "My Country and I," a song has been sung in various flash mob shows on the streets of Shanghai this year to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Renowned singer Huang Ying and performer Song Huaiqiang, former members of the troupe, joined the performance at the airport.
Passengers also waved the national flags and sang along with them.
The children of the troupe performed before taking a flight to Beijing for a themed performance to celebrate the coming International Children's Day on June 1.
The troupe was set up by Soong Ching Ling, honorary president of the People’s Republic of China, on June 1, 1955. It is the first of its kind in Shanghai and also China's most famous children's art troupe, where children are trained in singing, dancing, musical instruments, acting, folk theaters, calligraphy, painting and handicrafts.
In the past 64 years, they have become child ambassadors and have visited and performed in dozens of countries and regions, such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia and Japan.
They have also been invited to perform at important occasions, such as the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai last year, the 2001 APEC Summit Meeting and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
Renowned singer Huang Ying, a former member of the troupe, joins the performance at the Hongqiao airport.
A girl plays the violin during the flash mob.
A boy plays the bamboo flute.
A girl sings during the flash mob.
Passengers look at a boy and a girl singing at the airport.
The red scarf of young pioneers
Children of the Little Companion Art Troupe perform at the Hongqiao airport.
Children wave the national flags during the performance.
Passengers wave the national flags.
Three foreign passengers are glad to see the flash mob.
Children wave the national flags during the performance.
