Mid-autumn Festival

Although Westerners don’t have Mid-autumn Festival in their respective cultures, expats here in Guangzhou can enjoy the unique Chinese festival on Sep. 12. The Mid-Autumn Festival signifies unity and happiness, in which the family will get together and eat mooncake. There will also be many celebratory activities for the public.

First, you can have a Mid-autumn travel with special Mid-Autumn metro tickets. Commemorating the traditional festival, Guangzhou Metro Company published 4000 sets of special season tickets.

One set includes two commemorative tickets, sold for 80 RMB/ set. After the first time you use the ticket, you can take the subway for unlimited trips within 24-hours with a commemorative ticket during Sep. 6 to 29. Besides taking the metro, the collection value of tickets is the inner attraction.

If a more traditional activity is preferred, the lantern display on Baiyun Mountain (白云山) is a treat, which will open on Sep. 8.

The ocean animal-themed lantern displays, will be mostly found at Yuntai Garden (云台花园). There are 7 sets of lanterns; five sets of them are 10 meters long. Representations of white sharks and octopus polo will be the stars on display this year.

From Sep. 10 to Oct. 3, the first appearance of a modern lantern on the Mingchun Valley (鸣春谷) Peak Square (山顶广场) is set to surprise spectators with its massive portrayal of King Kong.

The King Kong lantern is 3 meters high and weighs 2 tons. It’s handmade from recycled car parts taking more than 5 months to build. With advanced LED lighting technology, the King Kong will become more impressive at night.

The folk custom and culture activity in Guxiang Li (故乡里) Huadu District (花都区) is attractive for lovers of tradition as well. For example, you can see girls throw rolled silk balls to choose husbands at random.