Thousands of people in China are celebrating the first day of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday watching dazzling lantern shows and vibrant traditional performances.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions. It falls on Sept. 17 this year.
People are also celebrating the three-day holiday through diverse cultural festivities, including eating mooncakes and appreciating the moon.
In Beijing, residents were in for a treat as authorities staged a grand lantern show. Running from Sunday till the end of October, the lantern show consists of nine themed areas, with over 200 lighting sets on show.
"This is my first time to see such a big lantern show. I'm very excited. It not only has sci-tech features, but also some elements of Chinese tradition. On this special occasion, being able to enjoy this lantern show really means a lot to me," said Wang Sixiang, a local resident.
Meanwhile, Changsha City of central China's Hunan Province has organized various activities incorporating Chinese tradition and intangible cultural heritage.
At Tongguanyao resort, shadow play, an intangible cultural heritage, attracted many tourists. Travelers can also try out Nvshu, a written language developed for and by women in Hunan during ancient times.
Nvshu was usually written on paper or stitched on cloth, and the characters were supposed to make people relate the words to women's postures. Women used Nvshu to communicate with each other, record their daily life, and write songs. The female script was popular in Hunan's Jiangyong County.
"I've tried to make several traditional handcrafts," said Qu Xiangyue, a tourist.
At the same time, Chinese traditional performances, including Flower Drum Opera, bian lian (face-changing) and crosstalk, took center stage in Jinggang Ancient Town. The vibrant performances captivated tourists as they immersed in Chinese culture.
All the while, tourists cruised the Lujiang River in Jinggang, watching modern interpretations of Chinese traditional cultures along the cruise.
"I think this place is really worth visiting. It's very vibrant," said Bai Ge, another tourist.
Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday
Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday
Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday
Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
