Discover China

Today the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated across China and in many other parts of the world. People are enjoying the traditional mooncakes, and looking forward to this evening’s gala, which this year is being held in Meizhou in Guangdong Province. To find out more visit the CCTV 2013 Mid-Autumn Festival special feature.

This year the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Sunday 30 September and Chinese National Day is the following day, 1 October.

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the day of the full-moon on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. It’s the second most important traditional Chinese festival, after the Spring Festival. Eating moon cakes is a highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chinese National Day 2012 marks the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and various celebration activities are held across China and around the world. Following these two days is a week-long national holiday.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on 12 September this year, is a traditional Chinese holiday for family reunions. And it wouldn’t be a proper Mid-Autumn Day without moon cakes – this baked treat with its various fillings is an indispensable part of the holiday. Find out more in the CNTV News stories Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated across China and Explore China to find various Mid-Autumn traditions.

Every year, the autumn high tides along the Qiantang River in east China attract tourists from all over the world. The Qiantang River tides appear each year during the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when incoming tides form a huge wave that travels against the direction of the current as the river narrows. This year’s Qiantang River tides are the largest in nine years. To find out more see the CNTV News story Qiantang River presents magical and aquatic beauty to viewers.

Each year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, China Central Television (CCTV) hosts a spectacular gala that is broadcast live across China. To watch the full video online visit CCTV 2010 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. This year’s gala was broadcast from the city of Wuhu in Anhui Province which we visited on our 2009 trip to Henan, Anhui and Zhejiang. The distinctive Anhui architecture is reflected in the stunning Mid-Autumn Festival Gala stage set.