The moon dance is a group dance that is very popular in Altay. Several male and female dancers stand in circles and dance together. One female and one male, as a group, clap hands and twirl together when they dance.

Despite that the range of actions is big and the rhythm of music is fast, the dance is easy to learn. It usually takes about 10 minutes for people to master the key points of the dance. With around half an hour’s practice, the dancing partners can cooperate with each other quite well.

The moon dance is a way for young people to express their affection. During the annual Aken singing gathering, the elderly and kids can rest after a day’s work, and adults may drink in the yurts. While the youngsters are still energetic, they often go out of the yurts to dance with the lively music under the moonlight, which is quite romantic.

Visitors can experience this popular local art by dancing by the Erqis River.