Brazil-China closer relations boost cultural exchange

Dancers perform the opening dance at the “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” event at the City of Arts, one of Rio De Janeiro's newest music halls, March 5, 2015. A group of Chinese artists presented a performance to celebrate the Chinese lunar New Year and the 450th anniversary of the city's foundation. The program was organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council. [Photo/Xinhua]

This year, the party lasted two days and gathered over 100,000 people, offering an rare opportunity for Brazilians to learn more about Chinese customs, food, arts and language.

This year's "Cultures of China" festival was more focused in kung fu, as the Chinese martial art already has a consolidated presence in Brazil and was bound to attract more attention to the event, but there were also dance and music performances.

Kung fu has been popular in Brazil since the 1960s, and the National Kung Fu/Wushu Confederation was founded in 1992 in Brazil. Since then, it has already organized 22 national championships. The country also hosted one South American and two Pan-American championships.

The Confederation has 5,000 registered athletes, but it is estimated that over 100,000 people in Brazil practice kung fu or wushu.

Tai Chi Chuan is also widely practiced in Brazil. In the Brazilian capital city Brasilia, an outdoor practice in a local park was declared a cultural heritage of the city in 2007.