WHAT: Chinese Culture Days
WHEN: Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 2002, 10 am to 5 pm
WHERE: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis
COST: $7 adults, $5 seniors, free to Garden members and children age 12 and under
SPONSORS: Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Chinese Culture Education and Services
The thrilling Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe and the Chushan Chinese Opera are featured performers at Chinese Culture Days, on May 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Missouri Botanical Garden. This year the festival celebrates "Diversity in Culture; Unity in Action."
Entering the Garden through an ancient Chinese village gate, visitors will experience the unique traditions, entertainment and pageantry of the Far East. A 71-foot dragon and a pair of lions will dance at the festival’s opening ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18. The dragon and lions will lead a grand parade of performers in dynasty costumes at 2:30 p.m. on May 18.
Throughout the weekend, the Shanghai Acrobat Troupe will entertain audience members of all ages with exciting, gravity-defying feats of skill and grace. See the acrobats on May 18 at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m., and on May 19 at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The Chushan Chinese Opera of Washington, D.C. will perform traditional Chinese operatic roles. Performances are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on May 18, and 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on May 19.
Local restaurateurs will serve authentic Chinese food and present cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend under a food court tent. Chinese art will be displayed in the Ridgway Center. Visitors can watch up close as artists and craftsmen demonstrate calligraphy, painting, stone carving and other activities. Children can have their faces painted and participate in hands-on crafts. Local language school students will perform Chinese myths. Throughout the Garden, yo-yo and tai chi demonstrations, poetry reading, a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, tea service and musical entertainment will take place during the festival. Visitors can also observe Wu Shu martial arts demonstrations and learn about Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Gift items will be available for sale.
Tours of the Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden will highlight the moon gate, pavement mosaics and other features of this traditional Chinese garden, which is acknowledged as the most authentic Chinese garden of its size in the United States.
The festival is sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Chinese Culture Education and Services.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, just off I-44 and Vandeventer. For directions or more details call (314) 577-9400 or (800) 642-8842 toll free, or visit
www.mobot.org.
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