The Story of China’s Mid-Autumn Festival

Tonight, let’s travel into one of China’s most beautiful traditions— a night filled with poetry, family, and the glowing moon. This is the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival.

Every year, when autumn comes and the air grows cooler, people in China look forward to this beloved holiday. The date is always the same on the lunar calendar: the 15th day of the eighth month.
In 2025, that falls on October 6th. On this night, the moon is at its fullest and brightest, symbolizing reunion and wholeness.

The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival go back nearly two thousand years.
Most agree that it was officially established during the Tang Dynasty, when poetry and moon-viewing were at their height. Since then, it has been passed down as one of the most important family-centered festivals in China.

Poets gave this festival its soul. The Tang poet Bai Juyi once wrote: “Looking northwest, where is my homeland? In the southeast, how many times has the moon turned full?” And centuries later, the Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo asked: “When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to ask the sky.”
These lines remind us how the moon is more than light in the sky—it is a symbol of longing, of homesickness, and of connection. Perhaps the most famous of all is Su Dongpo’s Shui Diao Ge Tou, which ends with the timeless blessing: “May we all be blessed with longevity. Though far apart, we share the beauty of the same moon.”

The festival is also wrapped in myth.
The most well-known story is that of Chang’e, the moon goddess. According to legend, she drank an elixir of immortality and flew to the moon, where she lives to this day. This romantic tale is still told to children and celebrated in art, giving the Mid-Autumn Festival its magical touch.

So how do people celebrate today?
The answer is simple—together. Families reunite, share mooncakes, and sit outside admiring the glowing moon. Streets shine with colorful lanterns, and children walk proudly with them in hand. In southern China, especially at temples, people can still watch the Fire Dragon Dance, a dazzling performance filled with sparks and rhythm.

Because of its long history and cultural meaning, in 2006 the Mid-Autumn Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China. But its influence goes far beyond the country’s borders. It is also celebrated in Japan, Korea, and many parts of Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a night where poetry, myth, and tradition come together under the same glowing moon. And no matter where you are, near or far, the moon reminds us that we are never truly apart.