Prince George, B.C. – A rare opportunity for Central Interior residents is coming up later this month.

Local governments from across the region are hosting a series of Chinese martial arts performances from August 18^th to August 22^nd.

It’s in partnership with the Cultural Department of Henan Province in China. The performing group consists of 18 elite martial arts practitioners from the Shaolin Epo Martial Art School of Dengfeng City.

The performances will take place in 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Prince George and Barkerville Historic Town.

Various forms of martial arts will be on display including pictographic animal boxing, knife and whip group boxing, variations of hard qigong (involving pikes and steel nails) and the use of 18 weapons developed by Shaolin monks over many decades.

The performances have been sponsored by the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), Cultural Department of Henan Province, District of 100 Mile House, City of Williams Lake, District of Wells, City of Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and Barkerville Historic Town with the support of the Central Interior Regional Arts Council.

“The CRD is proud to be partnering with our municipal members in the Cariboo and our friends in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the City of Prince George to host the Shaolin Martial Arts School performers from China,” says CRD chair Al Richmond. “This upcoming martial arts performance series will be a great cultural opportunity for the Central Interior and further strengthen our relations with China by facilitating cross-cultural learning and exchange.”

This event is part of the 2015 – 2016 China-Canada Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges’ initiative the Government of Canada and China launched last year.

The Shaolin Ep Martial Arts School is world renowned having toured more than 80 countries and having delivered over 3,000 performances.

Tickets are $15 and on sale now. The performances will take place:

August 18 at Martin Exeter Hall, 100 Mile House 7:00 p.m. (advance tickets at District of 100 Mile House Office or Donex Screamin’ Reel)

August 19 at the Gibraltar Room, Williams Lake 7:00 p.m. (advance tickets at CRD Board office or The Open Book)

August 20 at Barkerville Historic Town and Park 1:00 p.m. (advance tickets at Barkerville Visitors’ Reception Centre)

August 22 at the Prince George Playhouse 7:00 p.m. (advance tickets at Studio 2880 or Books and Co)