[Photo by Wang Biao/for China Daily]

Zhao Juan, Gong Huiling and Xiao Miao, all from Fuyang Normal College in Anhui province, are the mermaids in show run by the city's aquarium. Dressed in their costumes, the girls swim across the swaying grass, passing the turtles and fish. Smiling, they wave to the audience. Zhao Juan twists her "tail" as she follows the soothing and melodious music. Then she makes a deep dive, flips and rotates. This wins her a lot of applause from the audience.