Mid-Autumn festivities blend heritage and night tourism across China

Traditional performances and immersive night attractions drew crowds across China during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, offering varied cultural experiences while supporting local tourism and nighttime spending.

The festival, traditionally a time for family reunions and moon viewing, fell on Friday, with a three-day public holiday from Sept 25 to 27. A seven-day National Day holiday follows from Oct 1 to 7.

In Danzhai County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, daytime celebrations featured intangible cultural heritage performances and hands-on activities. People from Danzhai and nearby areas, representing several ethnic groups and dressed in festive attire, gathered in a town on the county's outskirts to sing and dance in circles.

Moving to the rhythm of the lusheng, a traditional reed-pipe instrument, Miao women performed the Golden Pheasant Dance. Their silver headdresses were modeled on the bird, while their skirts mimicked its tail. Behind them, Miao men played lusheng pipes decorated with long golden pheasant tail feathers.

The festivities also showcased Miao batik, a traditional wax-resist textile dyeing technique. "We are showcasing traditional Miao batik. This piece took the three of us seven days to dye," said Peng Liangjie, a performer in the batik group.

Visitors could try embroidery, batik dyeing and silver ornament making. Visiting troupes presented lion dances from Foshan in south China's Guangdong Province and suona performances from Kaifeng in central China's Henan Province. The suona is a traditional Chinese double-reed horn.

"Our series of intangible cultural heritage activities will continue into the National Day holiday, with regular performances held every day," said Chen Yujia, director of the Danzhai County Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism.

In Jingzhou City in central China's Hubei Province, an immersive 3D production turned the ancient city wall and nearby river into a nighttime stage. The show used water-screen projections, mist-and-laser effects and light displays across the wall. Its program drew on the region's links to the ancient State of Chu and the Three Kingdoms period from 220 to 280, combining a traditional moon-worship ritual, Chu-style dance, dramatic reenactments and poetry recitations.

"It was breathtaking. The city wall became the screen and the river the stage, and the lights, mist and fireworks blend together beautifully. The atmosphere was electric," said Jingzhou resident Zhou Xinyi.

"You can experience the rich heritage of the State of Chu and the Three Kingdoms, along with modern performances that appeal to young people. People of all ages can follow the show and get absorbed in it," said another resident, Wang Mingyang. The production is scheduled to continue through Oct 6.

In Fuyang City in east China's Anhui Province, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also locally known as the Torch Festival. One traditional custom, known as "liao huobazi," involves young people carrying torches through local villages at night. At Shuangqingwan Water Street, torches lit the route as performers staged a traditional bench dragon dance to the beat of drums and gongs, drawing visitors who stopped to take photographs.

"I came especially during the Mid-Autumn holiday to experience this. It was spectacular," said tourist Shi Kexin. On the day of the event, foot traffic at the commercial district topped 10,000, while nighttime revenue at local businesses was more than 60 percent above normal levels.

Elsewhere in Anhui, night tours also gained popularity in Yingshang County, where intangible cultural heritage and other folk performances were woven into evening attractions. "We made a special trip back for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Seeing these traditional folk performances helped us appreciate the appeal of traditional Chinese culture," said tourist Jin Xueru.