Pathway to Asia at Reid Park Zoo — Community Outing 🐅

Hi everyone,

After practicing  the Five Animal Frolics QigongQigong (Qìgōng)Qigong is a broad family of Chinese practices combining movement, postureBaihui (Crown Suspension Point) (Bǎihuì)An acupuncture point at the crown of your head. In Tai Chi, we imagine a gentle silk thread lifting this point straight toward the sky.Kua (Kuà)Kua is a Chinese Tai Chi term referring broadly to the hip and groin region where the legs connect with the pelvis. You may hear an instruct...Song (Sōng)Song is usually translated as relax, release, or loosen. It does not mean becoming limp. It means letting go of unnecessary muscular tension..., breathing, and attention. Tai Chi and Qigong overlap in many ways..., I thought this would be a fun outing for our Old Pueblo Tai Chi community!

Pathway to Asia opens at Reid Park Zoo on Friday, November 13, 2026, with celebrations continuing through November 14–15. I’d love for some of us to go, enjoy the cultural performances, and explore the new habitats together.

After practicing out Frolics,  we can now we can look forward to seeing how these animals stretch, settle, and move to give us some fresh inspiration for our practice.

What’s planned?

The new area draws inspiration from ancient Khmer architecture in Angkor, Cambodia, with stone facades, pillars, and a large archway creating the feeling of wandering through ancient ruins. Behind that scenery are modern habitats designed around the animals’ needs.

Friday, November 13:

• 7:30 a.m. — Peace blessing offered by monks from Wat Buddhametta.

• 8:30 a.m. — Ribbon cutting and opening ceremony.

• 10 a.m. — Public opening.

• Local Asian groups will perform throughout the morning.

Saturday and Sunday, November 14–15:

• Asian cultural performances throughout the weekend.

• Sunday at 2 p.m. — A talk by tiger conservationist Tara Harris.

You can also visit the Tucson Buddhist CenterDantian (Dāntián)Dantian is a traditional Chinese term meaning “elixir field.” In Tai Chi, teachers usually mean the lower Dantian, the lower-abdominal area ... website to learn more about Wat Buddhametta.

Mark October 27 for tickets

Timed tickets become available October 27, and advance reservations will be required during the first weeks after opening. Head to Reid Park Zoo for ticket information and updates. Check the Zoo’s announcements for access details for the early blessing and ceremony, since the public opening is at 10 a.m.

Interested in going? Leave a comment with the day you’d prefer! We can see who’s interested and work out a time to meet.

For now: mark your calendar, check tickets on October 27, and let us know if you’d like to join us. It sounds like a lovely way to enjoy a little animal inspiration outside class.

—Dan