The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) is China’s most romantic holiday — celebrating the full moon, family reunions, and autumn beauty for over 3,000 years.
History and Legend
Dates to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE). The popular legend: Houyi the archer and his wife Chang’e, who flew to the moon after drinking an immortality elixir.
Mooncakes
The defining food — round pastries filled with lotus seed paste or sweet bean paste, with salted duck egg yolk representing the full moon. Roundness symbolizes family unity.
Explore more in our Chinese Culture Complete Guide.