For three decades, this enduring partnership between the Garden and the local community has created a weekend filled with colorful Chinese pageantry, art, music and dance, history and legends and wonderful food.
New this year:
Experience the Living History of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage—The festival offers deeper connections to Chinese artistry by highlighting the living history and inherited practices of folk art. Visitors can witness China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage firsthand through live demonstrations with renowned artists. Master artist Zhang Yueying preserves the delicate tradition of Chinese paper-cutting through intricate designs and large-format scroll works, while Jiang Zisheng, a sixth-generation inheritor of sugar figurine blowing, showcases a rare art form that blends storytelling, craftsmanship, and audience interaction.
Discover Traditional Chinese Music Hollywood—Explore how traditional Chinese instruments have influenced the sound of cinema for generations alongside acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Wang Hong, performing with musicians from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Wang will share insights from his work on major productions such as Avatar: The Last Airbender and Kung Fu Panda, illustrating how traditional Chinese music shapes the emotional landscape of modern films.
Play Games, Hear Music, and Take in the Serenity of the Chinese Garden—This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Chinese Garden, a symbol of St. Louis' enduring connection to its Sister City, Nanjing. For three decades, the garden has offered a place of beauty, reflection and connection. During Chinese Culture Days, visitors can experience Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua—the traditional arts of music, games, calligraphy, painting, and Tai Chi.
When: May 2–3
Where: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110
Cost: $16 for general adult admission, $8 for kids 3–12; $8 for most members
Website: mobot.org/chineseculturedays
What's in Bloom:
Amid the serenity of the Chinese Garden, visitors can discover plants endemic to China—species that grow naturally only in that country. Blooming during the festival are Chinese sweetshrub, bishop’s hat, and—weather permitting—Chinese redbud.
