Urban management officials in Beijing's Fengtai district tried to persuade a group of square dancers to suspend their activities ahead of the university entrance exam, but the elderly female dancers refused, Beijng Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.

Some 300 retired women were dancing on Tuesday night to loud music in a square next to a school at which the students were busy preparing for the exam on June 7, and the music was disturbing their studies. The urban management officials tried to persuade the dancers to stop but were ignored by the dancers, who stopped while the officials were speaking to them but continued dancing when the officials left. The dancers said it has become increasing difficult for them to find a place to dance, and they are reluctant to give up using the square for their favorite sport.