Dragons, acrobats and martial artists took over the Thomas Center on Sunday.
More than 500 people attended the city's first China Fest, which was made possible by a $5,000 grant from the Smithsonian Community Grant program.
The festival kicked off inside the Thomas Center's Spanish Court room with Liang, a gold medal-winning acrobat, as she spun eight plates on bamboo rods while doing handstands, leg kicks and barrel rolls.
For Liang's finale, the audience counted along as she twirled 25 hula hoops around her torso, which were thrown to her one by one.
Groups of children and adults also watched Liu Nan, a Chinese brush painting and calligraphy artist, demonstrate his techniques and explain the concept behind the ancient Chinese art form.
"There must be contrast in the art," Nan said as he drew two brown sparrows flying into a tree using watercolors and black ink.
Outside in the garden, members of the Asian American Dance Team of Jacksonville dressed as two red Chinese lions and danced around the fountain to the beat of a traditional Chinese drum as children laughed and clapped along.
Jessica Lee, a Santa Fe College sophomore who worked at the event, said she was relatively new to Chinese culture but was still interested in learning more about it.
"It's cool to have events at Gainesville that don't have to do with football," Lee said.
China Fest did have its fair share of action, as students and teachers of the Tallest Tree Cuong Nhu Center showed off their martial arts skills outside.
People looked on as one woman broke two boards back-to-back using only her elbows.
Back in the Spanish Room, Haiqiong Deng performed on a traditional Chinese instrument, the zheng.
Wearing a long red and gold Chinese robe, Deng's arms flowed and her fingers picked the 21-stringed harp-like instrument.
She explained that in ancient China, music was for self-entertainment and for what she described as "self-cultivation."
"One must have a very sensitive ear," she said.
David Ballard, event coordinator for China Fest in Gainesville, said the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs would try to host another China Fest next year.
"Seeing all these people and smiles has been great," Ballard said.
