Mid-Autumn Festival: Top Places to Gaze at the Moon like a Local
We are all familiar with eating mooncakes as a way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. But what is less known, or often overlooked, are the traditional customs that mark the occasion such as bringing family members together to appreciate the beauty of the moon, which should be at its most bright and full.
When I was a child, my family would gather under the moonlight in the courtyard or balcony to have snacks, mooncakes, and tea, chatting and watching the moon. My favorite part was listening to my mom tell the story of the beautiful lady and the rabbit who lived on the moon.
If you happen to be staying in Beijing during the holiday, we’ve selected some of the most well-known and traditional places in the city to enjoy this authentically Chinese celebration.
Lugou Bridge 卢沟晓月
Located at the southwest of Beijing’s Fengtai District, Lugou bridge became well-known for its poetic name Lugouxiaoyue (The Moon over Lugou Bridge at Dawn 卢沟晓月) given by Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin Dynasty after he saw the full moon reflected on the Yongding River. Emperor Qianlong then adopted the title and inscribed it upon a stone tablet during the Qing Dynasty, which further spread its fame. The 266-meter-long stone bridge also serves as one of many extraordinary works of architecture in the capital. Shaped like a rainbow, the bridge has 11 arched gates, four Chinese pillars, and 485 carved lions placed atop columns. Every Mid-Autumn Day, special festivities such as lantern fairs would take place by the bridge to celebrate its history.
Shichahai 什刹海
You can’t have a perfect view of the moon without water and Shichahai Lake is one of the oldest lake areas in Beijing. The Yinding Bridge that looms across it is high enough to admire the view of the moon and its reflection on the placid surface. Shichahai has its own beauty and is comparable to Hangzhou’s West Lake and Nanjing’s Qinghuai River. Shichahai consists of three lakes – Qianhai, Xihai, and Houhai – all of which will doubtlessly provide beautiful views.
Yuetan Park (Temple of the Moon) 月坛
Built in 1530, Yuetan Park was where Ming and Qing emperors used to worship the moon on the Mid-Autumn Day. The park has two gardens with beautiful plants and ancient architecture.
The Summer Palace 颐和园
Besides watching the moon, it is also a tradition for local Beijingers to go to the Summer Palace to see the osmanthus flowers during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Families and friends can take a walk amidst the sweet fragrances of ancient trees or take a boat ride along the lakes to enjoy the scenery.
READ: Lunar Lessons: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mid-Autumn Festival
This article first appeared on our sister site, beijingkids.
Images: Aron Visuals (via Unsplash), blog.absolutechinatours.com and beijing.china.org.cn, Felix Luo (via Unsplash)
