Mid-Autumn Festival 2025: Traditions, Legends and How to Celebrate

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China and for Chinese living overseas. The festival is a time for families to gather, share meals, and enjoy mooncakes together. In this article, we will discuss essential information about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Mid-Autumn Lantern

When Is Mid-Autumn Festival

Admire huge moon lantern on Mid-Autumn Festival

It's celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest. However, since it follows the Chinese lunar calendar, the exact date varies each year, usually falling between mid-September and early October.

Date of Mid-Autumn Festival from 2025 to 2029

Year	Date of Mid-Autumn Festival
2025	Oct. 6th
2026	Sep. 25th
2027	Sep. 15th
2028	Oct. 3rd
2029	Sep. 22nd

Note: Every year, October 1-7 is China's National Day holiday. If you plan to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and it happens to fall within this week, it's best to plan your trip in advance, as there will be a large number of domestic tourists. We can customize your itinerary to avoid peak crowds as much as possible. Our experienced guides can explain traditional culture in depth, and most importantly, with a private guide, you won't have to worry about sharing experiences with strangers.

Legend of Mid-Autumn Festival

According to legend, a man named Hou Yi was rewarded by the Queen Mother of the West, the heavenly goddess, for saving people from disasters. She gave him an elixir that granted immortality and ascension to the heavens. However, Hou Yi didn't want to leave his beloved wife, Chang'e, so he asked her to keep the elixir safe.

One day, Feng Meng, a man who had learned martial arts from Hou Yi, discovered the secret. While Hou Yi was away, Feng Meng tried to force Chang'e to hand over the elixir. Knowing he was an evil man who would use immortality to harm the people, Chang'e swallowed the elixir herself.

After taking it, her body rose uncontrollably into the sky, and she flew to the moon. Hou Yi and the villagers missed her deeply, so they placed her favorite foods in their courtyards and offered distant blessings to her. Over time, this tradition evolved into the Mid-Autumn Festival.

How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in China

Admire the Round Moon

Moon gazing is a key tradition for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Chinese culture, the round full moon symbolizes unity and happiness and makes wishes for health, peace, and prosperity. Since the festival is a time for family gatherings, gazing at the bright full moon symbolizes being together, even if loved ones are far away.

Have a Reunion Meal With Family

The festival is a time for family reunions. Families gather for dinner, enjoy mooncakes and seasonal fruits (like pomelos and taro), and spend time together under the moonlight. Some families set up offerings of mooncakes, fruits, and incense to express gratitude and make wishes, a tradition that originated from the legend of Chang'e.

Eat Mooncakes

Mooncake for Mid-Autumn Festival

Mooncakes are a seasonal delicacy sold only around the Mid-Autumn Festival. The most common ones are round, symbolizing family reunion and completeness, just like the full moon. They come in various sizes but typically are about the size of a fist. There are many different flavors of mooncakes, such as lotus seed paste, red bean, mixed nuts, or modern ice cream varieties.

On the night of the festival, families cut mooncakes into pieces, much like cutting a small cake, and share them after dinner.

Enjoy the Mid-Autumn-Themed Lantern Show

Moon and rabbit lantern for Mid-Autumn Festival

Many places hold lantern shows during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and one of the most recommended is the lantern show at Yuyuan Bazaar in Shanghai. Many designs feature the moon, rabbits, and Chang'e, reflecting Mid-Autumn legends. Combined with Yuyuan's classical Chinese architecture, it feels as if you've traveled back in time to celebrate the festival in ancient China.

The lantern show is very family-friendly - you can stroll under lantern-lit paths or take photos with the illuminated decorations to enjoy the festival together. You can even rent traditional Chinese costumes to take beautiful photos.

Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival With Us

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the perfect time to experience China's rich traditions. Let us help you create a seamless and unforgettable holiday - we'll solve every problem you meet on your China tour, including stress-free itineraries, private guides, and exclusive cars. Just click here or write to trip@odynovotours.com for a personal itinerary.