Colorful cultural activities, such as performances, basketball games, and lantern-making, are filling streets and other public places with joy in rural areas across China during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. In Suining City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, performers from Sichuan and its neighboring municipality Chongqing delighted local residents with splendid shows including Sichuan Opera, singing and dancing, and acrobatics.
In Suining's cultural park, immersive and interactive folk activities such as wearing Hanfu, poetry recitation, and traditional cultural parades attracted a large number of residents and tourists.
"I hope the intangible cultural heritage will be passed on, allowing more tourists and residents to experience a different atmosphere," said Zhu Lanxia, a visitor.
The 2024 "Village BA" match, a hugely popular rural basketball tournament, proceeded with great enthusiasm in Taijiang County in southwest China's Guizhou Province before the festival.
The rural basketball game ignited the sports passion of tourists. The teams from other provinces brought song and dance performances of ethnic minorities and intangible cultural heritage to the stadium.
"We brought many special performances and our drum team, hoping everyone can feel the vibrant atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival. We also brought some specialties from our ethnic minority cultures, such as food from Guangxi, rice wine, Zongzi, and mooncakes, for everyone to taste," said Li Mengya, member of Guangxi Shanglin Performance Team.
In Boluoling neighborhood in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, making intangible heritage lanterns is a tradition of more than 30 years.
Art teachers and pupils of Boluoling Primary School were learning this craft from an experienced artist to celebrate the traditional festival.
"When selecting bamboo strips, we should choose higher quality ones. When wrapping them with crepe paper tape, we should apply sufficient pressure. This will ensure they are solid and look good when tied together," said Mo Zihui, a pupil.
"I hope to continue passing it down, so that more people can know about, understand and appreciate lanterns," said Li Da, a craftsman.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in China is a festival in honor of the moon and harvest, as well as an occasion for family and friend reunions to eat mooncakes and appreciate the moon. It falls on the fifteenth day of the eight month in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
This year's festival falls on Sept 17, with the public holiday running from Sunday to Tuesday.
Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations spread joy across China
