The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated in China for thousands of years and 2016’s Mid-Autumn Festival falls upon September 15 (August 15 in China’s lunar calendar) or September 16 in a few areas of China. What to do on the festival day? In China, there are lots of things to do.

No. 1. Appreciating the moon.

China’s Mid-Autumn Festival has close relations with the moon. Legend says that it dates back to the sacrifice activities of ancient China’s emperors. According to the Chinese classic Liji or The Book of Rites, “The son of heaven (emperor or king) worships the sun in spring and offers sacrifice to the moon.” Later aristocrats, officials and scholars learned from the emperor and this tradition was gradually spread to the folks of the country. This tradition has swept the whole nation and has since then become the topmost important thing on the day.

No. 2. Eating delicious moon cakes.

With appreciating the moon, the Mid-Autumn Festival would be nothing. Without moon cakes, the festival seems has no specialty and people seem to have nothing tasty to eat on the day. Although large varieties of expensive moon cakes have been produced and sold before and on the day, you don’t have to buy the expensive ones, and the cheap and tasty ones will do. Spending some 20 or 30 RMB should be enough for yourself. If you like DIY, you might as well search Baidu and learn how to make one tasty moon cake yourself. Or you can learn this skill from some cooks you can find.

No. 3. Lighting lanterns.

Lighting lanterns doesn’t mean you set fire on the lanterns but means set candles or electric bulbs in the lanterns and make them look beautiful on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This tradition was once famous in China’s Guangdong province and has been spread to many parts of China so far. Nowadays this tradition looks more obvious in big cities and should be the second largest lantern festival in China. Look at the colorful lanterns on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival!

No. 4. Taking part in attractive activities on your trip.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, some people prefer travel to other activities and businesspeople know it. Therefore, many tourist attractions will prepare different kinds of activities to attract tourists, and this is the time for you! Join them and have a splendid holiday.