A senior man demonstrate his spindle spinning skills during the "Lane Games Gala" at Daning. [Shanghai Daily]

What shall we play? Zhuo mi cang (hide-and-seek), mu tou ren (wooden man), dou ji (fighting rooster), che ling zi (spindle spinning) or tiao fang zi (hopscotch)?

These sociable games used to be played until the late 1980s in Shanghai's narrow longtangs (lanes), but they have given way to more homework, computer games and modern attractions.

Children who never played the games, their moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas will all be able join the "Lane Games Gala" on weekends through the end of May at Daning Life Hub in Zhabei District.

They can kick shuttle cocks, play jump-rope with elastic bands, roll iron hoops and try any number of games that have gone out of style.

In the outdoor festival, children can play the old games their parents played decades ago, many of them involving teamwork - something lacking in solitary games today, on computer, PSP or Wii.

During the festival on Saturdays and Sundays, extreme sports professionals will play the old games in a new X-Game way, such as "the eagle catches chickens" on skateboards, iron hoop rolling on roller blades and hopscotch with two people tied together.

An arena is set up in the center square where the brave contestants can challenge the others to become the winner of the day, the week, and the festival.

Those interested in competition can log on to www.daningdaning.com. But everyone is welcome to come and just have fun.

Longtang food will be part of the festival. Traditional food from Shanghai kitchens will be offered, such as braised eggplant stewed with chicken stock, deep-fried pork ribs with sweet and sour sauce, sauteed wild mushrooms with jie lan (Chinese broccoli), lotus shoot with spring onion salad, sugar-cured lotus stuffed with sticky rice, chilled sweet and sour cucumber.

Date: Weekends through May 24, 10-12am, 2-5pm

Venue: Daning Life Hub, 1868-2008 Gonghexin Rd

To sign up, please visit www.daningdanging.com

(Shanghai Daily April 29, 2009)