It’s a simple question, really. Why did Hongcheng Zhao decide to create the Oregon Chinese Festival, Portland’s popular annual summer event celebrating local Chinese culture? But pose the question to Zhao and he responds with a hearty chuckle, because the answer, it turns out, isn’t so simple. It’s buried in a forgotten and controversial past, lurking under decades of displacement and distrust. It’s littered with drama and misunderstanding, hard work and hurdles. But it’s also filled with hope and accomplishment. In a way, it’s a microcosm of the history of Chinese culture in a city that prides itself on progressivism today despite its complicated past. The Oregon Chinese Festival will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Pioneer Courthouse Square Read more at the link in our bio. 📸: seanspix #oregonchinesefestival #portland #portlandoregon #chinatown #chinesefestival #oldtown #downtown #pioneercourthousesquare