Jiaxiu Tower under a full moon, Guiyang, Guizhou province, China
© Wang Yukun/Getty Image
Under the full moon's gaze. Mid-Autumn Festival
As summer's warmth gently yields to autumn's cool embrace, the Mid-Autumn Festival lights up the Chinese city of Guiyang, celebrating the full moon and the autumn harvest. Also known as the Moon Festival, it takes place on the 15th day of the year's eighth lunar month in the Chinese calendar.
The harvest has been celebrated around the autumn full moon since China's Shang dynasty, more than 3,000 years ago. During the festival, families reunite to enjoy delectable mooncakes, admire the beauty of the moon, express gratitude, and tell tales of Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon, and her husband Hou Yi, a legendary archer.
Similar festivals are celebrated in Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, and other countries in East and Southeast Asia. Jiaxiu Tower, pictured on our homepage, was built in 1598, so it has witnessed many Mid-Autumn Festivals. Under the moonlit sky, lanterns adorn the tower, illuminating the streets, symbolizing hope, good fortune, and unity.
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