Beijing ready to sway to latin rhythms

For the first time, Palacios will perform with Chinastia Vallenata during the Latin American and Caribbean Arts Season in Beijing. This year's festival will be held at the 798 Art Zone and a public square near Liangmaqiao area from Monday to Wednesday.

The other band members include Chinese musicians, guzheng (Chinese plucked zither) player Guo Yuqi, erhu (Chinese fiddle) player Lin Zhenzhen, pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute) player Lin Yapin, accordion player Angel Soto, and singer Isabella Soto.

On Monday and Wednesday, the band will stage three shows featuring Latin American and Chinese fusion songs. On Tuesday at Peking University, they will give live performances and workshops to students.

"I was not a musician before I founded the band, but after I met these Chinese musicians, I decided to do it because it's a great idea to bring countries together and motivate people and their countries to be closer, and exchange friendship and culture through music," says Palacios, who moved to Xiamen, Fujian province, in 2003 to work with a Chinese manufacturing company.