Old and young alike – immerse yourself in the unique and diverse culture of China at ‘Living in Harmony’ this weekend and learn something new!

Multicultural Tauranga and NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga is hosting Living in Harmony – a wonderful and interactive showcase of Chinese culture on Saturday, October 21.

Meeting with our local Chinese community, you can learn more about the customs and traditions from the array of cultures within China.

“We’ve got 56 different ethnic groups altogether in China,” says NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga president Tina Zhang.

“We’ve got different cultures, different clothes and different foods, so we would like people to know what the difference is.”

With a diverse culture, Tina says there are people who are unfamiliar with China, who often hold misconceptions.

“TV has people thinking that traditional Chinese women do everything – housework, cooking...”

She notes this isn’t always the case. “In Chinese culture, Chongqing ladies are quite strong and want to control everything, and the Chongqing men are like a housewife and do everything – so this is the cultural difference.”

Tina says this can cause some confusion and clashes when Kiwi men pair up with a headstrong lass from Chongqing! “Culture is like a bridge. If you know the culture, then you can make a relationship.”

Living in Harmony will also be a feast of traditional Chinese dance performance and authentic Chinese cuisine during the evening.

Living in Harmony is 6pm-8.30pm on Saturday, October 21, at Wesley Methodist Church Hall, 100 13th Ave, Tauranga City.