Chongqing- Mooncakes, lanterns, osmanthus wine, the jade gare, Chang' e, and Hou Yi... This year, in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the team of iChongqing comes together, presenting you with the most unforgettable and exciting tales and stories about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Deeply ingrained in traditional Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, is when families gather to sample autumn harvests, eat mooncakes, light lanterns and admire what's believed to be the fullest moon of the year. It's one of the most traditional and loveliest Chinese festivals that falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, celebrated primarily in East and Southeast Asia. This year, we are celebrating it on October 1. 

What's the first thing comes to your mind when it relates to the Mid-Autumn Festival? Lets' check out on some of the answers that provided by the team of iChongqing:

Worship the moon is an essential part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon during this time is called the Harvest Moon because it is the full moon closest to the date of the Autumnal Equinox, a season for the Autumn harvest. During this time, the moon looks unusually large due to an optical illusion. People are encouraged to enjoy the full, bright moon on that day, expressing their thoughts and feelings under the moon.

Mooncake is strongly associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The mooncake is eaten in small pieces with tea and is also used for gifting. The pastries are prepared using egg yolk in the center to represent the moon, but some variations swap the egg yolk for red bean or lotus seed paste.

Osmanthus wine is a symbol of wealth and luck. With a lingering aroma, osmanthus is widely used to make traditional tea and wine. It tastes mellow and sweet and is enjoyed by many. Drinking osmanthus wine at Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes a harmonious family, wealth, and auspiciousness. It's a long-held practice in China that is wildly popular in the Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces. 

Click the video to know more exciting tales and stories about the Mid-Autumn Festival!