Health providers and members of the public interested in traditional Chinese medicine are encouraged to attend the third annual Chinese Culture Festival in Tucson this month.

Officials with the University of Arizonas Confucius Institute say this years festival, which will take place Saturday to Sept. 28 on the UA campus and other venues across Tucson, has a theme of health promotion and wellness.

Festival organizers are bringing two prominent professors from China to talk about both the theory and practice of traditional Chinese medicine, which has a focus on prevention. In China, many of the hospitals blend Western medicine and traditional medicine in one facility.

The festival is about helping people understand the Chinese language and culture and medicine is one aspect of Chinese culture, said Zhao Chen, co-director of the UAs Confucius Institute and a professor of public health at the UAs Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Tucson has the tradition of alternative medicine, and it is of broad interest here. So the Confucius Institute is trying to meet the local communitys interest.

All events are open to the public and most are free. In addition to an annual language competition the first day of the festival will include booths and tables of information and resources about Chinese medicine. Three events focusing on Chinese health are also scheduled, including a workshop geared toward local health providers.

More than 3,000 Arizonans participated in last years festival.

Health components in the festival include:

Other activities will include musical performances, a talent show, displays of award-winning calligraphy and photography, cultural exhibitions and various hands-on games.

Professor Jiping Zhao from the Beijing Chinese Medicine University will discuss how acupuncture is used in Chinese hospitals to help patients achieve and maintain optimal health.

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Tucson festival to explore traditional Chinese medicine