Chinese Culture Days showcases traditional and modern Chinese music, entertainment, fashion and cuisine in the beautiful venue of the Missouri Botanical Garden in spring.
New this year, the Changchun Acrobatic Troupe from Changchun, China, will perform jaw-dropping acrobatics at the Garden’s outdoor amphitheater. The nine-person troupe is the largest to attend the festival in several years and will be performing stunts, juggling and balancing acts, as well as more traditional Chinese entertainment such as face-changing.
The Garden will also host four renowned, traditional Chinese musicians from St. Louis’s sister city of Nanjing, China. The musicians will play traditional music, including performances by Mr. Yu Dongbo who plays and studies the oldest surviving instrument in China - the Jiahu bone flute.
This year also marks the 29th anniversary of the Chinese Garden—formally called the Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden. The Chinese Garden was a gift from Nanjing, and is a symbol of the two municipalities’ enduring connection.
Held during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Chinese Culture Days is an opportunity for St. Louis’s Chinese-American community to celebrate and honor its history and culture while inviting others to appreciate and learn more. This annual festival is held in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Education and Services Foundation. Hundreds of community volunteers work towards producing a weekend filled with colorful Chinese pageantry, art, music and dance, history and legends, and of course, wonderful foods!