Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.
During the festival, people usually hold family gatherings, eat mooncakes, admire the moon, and celebrate good harvests.
In 2021, the Mid-Autumn Festival will fall on September 21 (Tuesday). Chinese people will enjoy a 3-day break from Sept. 19 to 21.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of over 3,000 years. It was derived from the custom of moon worshiping during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC¨C1046 BC). After that, it was first celebrated as a national festival during the Northern Song Dynasty (960¨C1127). Nowadays, people mainly celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival as a time for family reunions.
One of the biggest stars of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the mooncake. The most common kind of mooncake is made of lotus seed paste, salted egg yolk and lard. Nuts, red beans and custards are some other popular ingredients.
Do you have a travel plan for this three-day holiday? If so, do remember carry out proper self-protection measures during your trips, and keep an eye on COVID-19 epidemic information updates. Wish you a happy and healthy journey!
Here are events and special offer by scenic areas:
Yueyang Tower
1. Get a Free Ticket by Reciting the Essay Remarks of Yueyang Tower
Venue: Yueyang Tower Scenic Area
Duration: 9:00-17:00 from Sept. 19 to 21
How to participate:
(1) Present your valid certificates such as ID cards, student ID cards, and driving license before participating;
(2) Recite the essay in five minutes with fluent mandarin;
(3) Make online reservation;
(4) The participating number will limit to 100 per day, each with one chance only.
2. Yueyang Tower Night Tours
Duration: from September 19 to 21
Opening hours: 18:30-21:30
Last entry at 20:30
Free entry will be offered to children under 14 years old and those aged 65 and above by present physical ID cards.
A Hanfu, or Han-style costumes fashion show will be held. Hanfu rental services will be offered. The activities will enable tourists to appreciate beautiful night view of Yueyang Tower and spend a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.
Shiniuzhai National Forest Park
Photo courtesy of Shiniuzhai National Forest Park
During this Mid-Autumn Festival, a performer dressed as ChangĦŻe, known as the Chinese Moon Goddess, will present mooncakes to tourists. A performance of ChangĦŻe flying to the moon will be staged. Lucky tourists may be dressed as astronauts to present mooncakes to visitors. Tourists can also try on ancient costumes.
Mufu Mountain
Photo courtesy of Mufu Mountain
From September 16 to 21, those who follow the WeChat official account of Mufu Mountain three hours in advance and share a post as required can get a one-yuan admission ticket before 15:00 of the day at the new tourist service center.
Zhang Guying Village Scenic Area
Zhang Guying Village is a national 4A-level scenic area. It is an ancient architectural cluster featuring Hunan-style courtyards. It enjoys a history of more than 600 years. It is known as the Ħ°Folk Imperial PalaceĦħ and the living fossil of Ming- and Qing-era residential houses for its exquisite architectural art, rich cultural heritage, and filial piety family tradition.
Special offer from Sept. 19 to 21:
Half-price tickets will be offered to children aged between 14 and 18, full-time students with valid certificates, those with the Certificate of Subsistence Security for Urban Residents issued by the civil affairs authority, and senior people aged between 60 and 64.
Free admission will be offered to children under 14 years old, the elderly aged 65 and above, in-service officers and soldiers, the disabled with the Certificate of Disability, and martyrs' families with valid certificates.
Dayun Mountain National Forest Park
Dayun Mountain National Forest Park is a national 3A-level scenic area. Dayun Mountain integrates relaxation, sightseeing, and religious pilgrimage. It is an ideal place for people to return to nature and enjoy an eco-tourism.
Special offer from Sept. 19 to 21:
Free parking for 10 people and above;
30 yuan/person and free parking for 20 people and above; and,
20yuan/person and free parking for 50 people and above.
Huangxiu Farming Culture Park
Huangxiu Farming Culture Park is located at Huangxiu Village, Huangsha Neighborhood, Yueyang County. It is a national 3A-level tourist attraction. It is a comprehensive farming culture park that integrates sightseeing agriculture, rural tourism, traditional farming experience, science popularization education, and new-type agricultural science and technology research and development.
Free admission will be offered to the public from Sept. 19 to 21.
Photo and Chinese source: official website of Yueyang bendibao; Voice of Hunan; WeChat official account of Yueyang County Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, and Television
Part of English source: Xinhua, China Highlights