Mid-Autumn Festival 2025
Date: October 6, 2025 (Monday)
Country: China Public Holidays
Description
The Mid Autumn Festival is a Chinese holiday about family, togetherness, and thanks. People think about the bright full moon. The moon stands for reunion, peace, and hope for the future.
It takes place on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. That usually falls in September or October. The exact date changes each year because the lunar calendar is not the same as the regular calendar.
The festival marks the middle of the autumn season and celebrates the harvest. It is a time to give thanks for food and the work that helped grow it. Many feel grateful and reflective.
This holiday is also important for culture and history. It appears in poems, stories, and art. The moon and family ideas connect people across generations.
For many, the Mid Autumn Festival is a moment to remember loved ones and share hopes. It brings calm and a feeling of belonging to something larger.
Traditions
Families gather to admire the bright moon and light colorful lanterns. Children carry paper or plastic lanterns in shapes like animals. Groups sing songs, tell stories, and sometimes perform dragon or lion dances near homes.
People make and share mooncakes with sweet or savory fillings. Families break mooncakes into pieces to pass around. Fruit, tea, and pomelo are common table items during gatherings and moon watching.
Some households burn incense and set up small offerings on a table. They place mooncakes, fruit, and candles to honor ancestors. People quietly give thanks and wish each other health and happiness under the moonlight.
Travel Tips
Expect many shops, museums, and government offices to close or have short hours. Book trains, planes, and hotels early. Big cities and tourist sites get very crowded in the evenings. Carry ID, a charged phone, and backup payment options.
Join official public events and well lit parks for safer crowds. Avoid lonely alleys at night and beware of pickpockets in packed places. Follow local police or staff instructions, wear comfortable shoes, and plan quieter times to visit popular attractions.