Among the Chinese dances, the folk dance is the greatest in number, the most extensive and the deepest into life, and the closest to everyone's daily life. Folk dance has a wide range, including most of the dances involved in various ethnic and folk custom and activities, such as production, the occasions to mark the climate and other natural phenomena of the seasons, marriage and funerals, beliefs and religions.

One major part of the folk dance is composed of dances related to food production and life. An ancient philosopher said, "Food and reproduction are basic human natures." The fundamental requirements of human existence and development are the production of materials and ourselves. The two hence became the most common subjects in the dances of various ethnic groups.

Dances related to production can be found in every ethnic group. In the agricultural regions, the dances often represent the farming life and express hopes for good weather and ample harvest. Such dances can be found in the Yangko and Caicha (Picking Tea Leaves) of the Han people, the Moguai (Frog) Dance of the Zhuangs, and the Niuwang (Cow King) Dance of the Bouyei ethnic minority. In the mountainous regions, the people have more dances on paying tribute to the Mountain God, and there are also many dances imitating various animals. Such dances are like Xiangbaga (Dance to Offer Sacrifices to the God of Hunting) of the Nu people, Jishenhui (Fair to Pay Tribute to the Mountain God) of the Oroqin ethnic minority, and the Bear Dance of the Ewenkis. The fishermen who make a living on the sea have dances relating to the ocean species and the gods of the sea, of which one of the most famous goddess is the Mazu worshipped along the southeastern coast. Two dances of such kind are the Wujiuli (Nine Carp Dance) in Fujian Province, and Jihaiwu (Dance to Pay Tribute to the Sea) in Hainan Province.

The love and marriage of the young are another theme of folk dances. In the early societies of each ethnic group, including the ancient Han nationality before the strict moral system took control of their daily life, music and dance were the main media between a girl and a young man's courtship, engagement and marriage. There are many festivals especially set for the young to get to know each other and to fall in love. The most popular such festivals are the Sanyuesan (March 3), Tiaoyue (Moon Dance), Tiaoyue (Music Dance), Caihuashan (Picking Flowers at the Mountains) and "Tiaolingtou", (Dance at the Mountain Range). These festivals include music and dance. There are both dances for the festivals and festivals for the dances.

In the folk dances about daily life, the funeral dance also gets a considerable share of recognition. Like the marriage dance, the funeral dance is also varied and diversified. An example is the Va ethnic minority in Yunnan Province. The funeral dance of the Va people includes:

Folk dances usually contain elements of religion and belief, as well as rituals and ceremonies. This is due to their direct lineage from primitive sorcery dance. At a certain development level of sorcery dance, its original function of ritual and ceremony became polarized. One part entered palaces to form the ritual system (as represented with the Yayue dance). The other part dived into the broad folk life and through its intercourse with life; it became the folk dance open to the entire society. The multi-facet feelings and beliefs expressed in perceptual terms formed the colorful mosaic of the folk dance.

Today, folk dances appear more in festivals for entertainment, and their original meaning is either weakened or completely lost. But the root of these dances is all deeply connected with folk activities that used to be popular in various ethnic groups.