China Wind – Tampere Chinese Dance Group aims to promote Chinese culture through traditional dance performances in its hometown of Tampere in Finland.

The Guilin Taijiquan Association teaches and promotes taiji in Finland.

Helena Hallenberg PhD. has studied Chinese Traditional Medicine since 1990 and conducted academic research in northern China on the combat techniques and medicine practiced by the Islamic Hui people.

The Helsinki Wushu Association, established in 1991, is Finland's oldest wushu and taijiquan club. Currently it has over 300 active members.

Jukka Karvonen is a stalwart bicyclist who rode his trusted bike last year from Shenzhen to Beijing via the Yellow Mountains and Xi'an.

Kristiina Mäntynen is an architect specializing in the art of feng shui. She has studied this oriental philosophy since 1990 and worked as a professional feng shui consultant for several years.

Thíêu Lâm Kung Fu is based on the famous traditional Chinese Shao Lin Kung Fu.

The Nordic Chinese Culture Festival will showcase the performances of the forty-person Northern Kunqu Opera Troupe, founded in 1957. Kunqu Opera is the oldest existing form of Chinese opera which features musical melodies played on traditional instruments.

Leena Kivivalli is a member of the board of the Finnish non-profit association Interpedia. She will give a presentation about adoption today at the Old Library Building in Tampere on Sept 1.

This year, the Nordic Chinese Culture Festival is proud to bring the performances of the acclaimed dance group Beijing Modern Dance Company (BMDC) to our festival audiences. Founded in 1995, the group is one of the leading professional modern dance companies in China as well as internationally.

The Progressive Win Tsun System has roots in the 300-year-old traditional Chinese martial arts form, Wing Chun, which has in modern times been modified into a self-defense technique.

Qiao Shan is an internationallly acclaimed performer, who has dedicated her life to promoting Chinese guqin music around the world. She specializes in lyrical guqin music, which integrates classical poetry with singing and playing music.

Tai Shin Mun incorporates all the elements of traditional martial arts.

Tang Lang is a Chinese martial arts form which is characterized by a high degree of physical activity, quick responses and an emphasis on offensive techniques.

Timo Klemola Ph.D. in the director of the Department of Sports Philosophy at the University of Tampere and a long-time practitioner of budo.

One of the star performers of the Nordic Chinese Culture Festival is calligraphist Zeng Laide. His performance is a unique combination of calligraphy and music. The performance entitled The Dance of Ink and Music is best described as a dialog between music and calligraphy that blurs the boundaries between different art forms. Zeng Laide has studied calligraphy since 1980. Starting from 1999, he has taught at the Zeng Laide Arts Centre in Beijing.