Issue: 662   Date: 05/01/2003

CHINESE CULTURE DAYS AT THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 2003

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 Service

(ST. LOUIS): Daring acrobats, puppet storytellers and a 70-foot dancing dragon are among the unique entertainment, traditions and pageantry of the Far East presented during Chinese Culture Days at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Celebrating Unity Through Diversity" is the 2003 festival theme. 

The dragon and lion dancers will open the festivities at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. The dragon and lions will return to lead a colorful grand parade of acrobats, folk dancers, drummers, martial artists and participants in ethnic costumes at 2 p.m. each afternoon. 

This year's celebration features puppet shows, a part of ancient Chinese history and culture for more than a thousand years. A family of puppeteers will tell stories through traditional Chinese Opera movements and music in Shoenberg Auditorium on May 17 at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and on May 18 at noon and 1 p.m. 

The New Shanghai Circus Troupe will return to entertain visitors with their creative, gravity defying feats of athleticism during five outdoor performances throughout the weekend. Local T'ai Ji masters will perform the art of mind-body meditation and self-defense, while martial artists will show their skills with swords, knives, sticks and spears. Artists and craftsmen will demonstrate calligraphy and Chinese painting. Fashion shows staged to music, dance and martial arts will model historical and traditional styles worn by the Chinese in the royal court, in daily life, on the 
battlefield, and in ceremonies of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. 

Visitors may wander the paths of the lovely Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden on their own or join a group tour. Guides will point out plants of Chinese origin and explain the significance of the moon gate, pavement mosaics, and other elements of the garden. 

Children can join in "Year of the Ram" festivities and create symbolic headpieces, puppets and noisemakers; learn to use chopsticks or speak Chinese; play Chinese versions of Go, checkers and chess; or have their faces painted, among other activities. 
Local restaurateurs will serve authentic Chinese and present cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend under the food court tent. 

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and free to Garden members and children age 12 and under. The celebration is sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Chinese Culture Education and Service, a coalition of 11 organizations. 

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, just off I-44 and Vandeventer. For directions or more information, call (314) 577-9400 or (800) 642-8842 toll free, or visit www.mobot.org.

The Missouri Botanical Garden's mission is to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life. Today, 144 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for research, education and horticultural display. 

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, just off I-44 and Vandeventer. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas, with extended summer hours on Wednesday evenings from Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2003. The grounds open early at 7 a.m. each Wednesday and Saturday. Admission is $7 for visitors age 13-64 and $5 for seniors age 65 and over. Members and children age 12 and under are free. Residents of St. Louis City and County receive discounted admission of $3 for those age 13-64 and $1.50 for those age 65 and over. Also, St. Louis City and County residents are admitted free Wednesday and Saturday until noon throughout the year. All visitors are admitted free during extended summer hours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings from Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2003. Some special events require an additional charge. Free parking is available on the premises. The Garden is easily accessible via public transportation by taking the MetroLink to the Central West End station and picking up the Garden Express shuttle bus on weekdays. For more information about events, hours, directions, etc., visit the Garden's Web site at www.mobot.org or call the Garden Line at (314) 577-9400 or (800) 642-8842.