YANGON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lion and dragon dance contest kicked off at Junction Square Shopping Center in Myanmar's Yangon on Wednesday evening as part of the pre-activities of Chinese New Year celebration.

A total of 17 lion dance groups and 12 dragon dance groups participated in the competition which will be held for eight consecutive nights until Feb. 14.

"We hold this contest to showcase Chinese traditional lion and dragon dances as well as to welcome the Chinese New Year which will fall in next week," U Thein Aung, secretary of Myanmar Lion and Dragon Dance Federation, told Xinhua.

Jointly organized by Myanmar Lion and Dragon Dance Federation and Junction Center Group, this is the fourth time that such dance contest was annually held.