ST. LOUIS — Visitors to the Missouri Botanical Garden this weekend immersed themselves in the rich history and culture of St. Louis’ Chinese American community. 

Chinese Culture Days wrapped up its two-day festival Sunday in St. Louis.

Min Liu, a spokeswoman for the festival, said it’s a special weekend for everyone.

“This festival is where we bring the best that our community has to offer,” she said. 

Since 1996, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Chinese Culture Education and Services Foundation has brought the special sights and sounds to the bistate.

It’s an event that many, including Chris Krieger and his family, keep coming back to.

“I’ll be here every year with my family. We love to come here. It’s absolutely one of the treasures of St. Louis,” he said. 

Liu said the partnership brings the deep heritage of St. Louis’ Chinese American community to life through the annual Chinese Culture Days festival.

“Our community members feel empowered to showcase our talent, our love for tradition, and we want everyone to come here and enjoy our festival,” she said. 

The one-of-a-kind festival has become a tradition for St. Louis families, like the Kriegers, thanks to the live performances, art, authentic cuisines and a Chinese marketplace.

“I do just love to absorb the different cultures from the different countries, and here I like to see the various dancers. I love to hear the music and see some of the displays that are around,” he said. 

This year the celebration also included an acrobatic troupe performance, musicians from St. Louis’ sister city of Nanjing, China and a 38-foot-long dragon boat, according to Liu. 

“This time of the garden is where a lot of our community members get to see each other. We haven’t seen each other in a long time, so we come here and bring the best show and bring our best to offer for the city,” she said. 

Liu said the 2025 festival was even more special since it was the kick off for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. She said the goal every year is to make sure everyone feels like they belong.

“St. Louis city is such an inclusive and welcoming and you cannot see a better example than what you can see here, this weekend, at the Botanical Garden,” she said. 

Chinese Culture Days wouldn’t be possible, according to Liu, without the over 800 volunteers from all over the city and state that dedicate their time to this tradition.