Manila—From Chongqing to Manila, cross-border connections between the two cities are shifting from online exchanges to face-to-face encounters.
On May 9, the “Across Mountains and Seas: Chongqing Meets Manila” interactive event connected the two cities via a live cross-border broadcast. Supported by a network of leading Filipino KOLs, the event generated more than 60 million views overseas. With regular direct flights now operating between Chongqing and Manila, travel between the two cities has become more convenient, while exchanges in tourism, trade, education and other fields continue to grow.
Four months later, that online encounter is heading to the streets of Manila. From September 12 to 13, Chongqing Meets Manila - A Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration will take place at SM Mall of Asia in Manila, the Philippines. Using Mid-Autumn Festival culture as a bridge, the event will bring together cultural performances, tourism promotion, educational exchanges, food tastings, traditional Chinese medicine consultations, smart manufacturing displays, and business networking, bringing Chongqing’s culture, lifestyle, and business opportunities closer to the Filipino public.
3 Days to Go to Chongqing Meets Manila - A Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration.
More Than a Mid-Autumn Performance: A Chongqing City Experience
The event is hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines and the Information Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, organized by the Western China International Communication Organization, with support from the Publicity Department of Liangjiang New Area, Southwest University, Chongqing College of Culture and Arts, Changan Automobile and other organizations.
The venue will feature a main performance stage, a dedicated Chongqing exhibition area and interactive spaces around the site. Around 350 representatives from the political, business, cultural, education and tourism sectors in China and the Philippines, along with members of the Chinese community, international students, business representatives and media, are expected to attend. The event will also be open to the Filipino public, international visitors and local university students.
On the afternoon of September 12, the main-stage program will open with Impressions of Bayu. A Chongqing city presentation, an exchange between Chinese and Filipino online creators, an opening ceremony, and Mid-Autumn Festival performances will follow, giving audiences in Manila a chance to see, hear, and take part in the traditional Chinese festival.
Beyond the stage, the "What Is Chongqing" city image exhibition, the "China, An Opportunity: Chongqing Brands" exhibition and other themed displays will open to visitors. Character mascots, Hanfu parades and photo opportunities will extend the festivities from the stage into the mall’s public spaces, bringing the celebration closer to everyday life in Manila.
Seven Themed Displays Bring Chongqing to Manila
While the main stage will showcase Chongqing's cultural character, the dedicated exhibition area will present a broader picture of the city’s lifestyle and industries.
Themed displays covering culture, tourism, education, food, smart manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, and Chongqing brands will remain open throughout the event. Visitors can explore Chongqing's intangible cultural heritage and tourism resources, learn about "Study in Chongqing" programs, sample local flavors such as hotpot and noodles, discover Chongqing-made new energy vehicles, and experience traditional Chinese medicine and health services—all in one place.
The event will also feature a "China, An Opportunity: Chongqing Brands" promotion. Beyond cultural exchange, the event will also focus on cooperation in tourism, education, automobiles, and aviation.
As a follow-up to the "Across Mountains and Seas: Chongqing Meets Manila" interactive event in May, the Mid-Autumn celebration will bring the earlier online connection onto the streets of Manila and help turn online interest into face-to-face exchanges and practical cooperation.
From meeting through screens in May to meeting in person in September, the ties between Chongqing and Manila continue to deepen. On September 12 at SM Mall of Asia, under the same Mid-Autumn moon, the two cities will meet once again.