China is abuzz with vibrant celebrations as folk cultural activities, including artistic performances, local snack-making, and cultural tourism events, are being held nationwide to welcome the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Tuesday.
The festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions.
In Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, the Jinci Museum has seen a surge in holiday visitors, offering an immersive experience of traditional Chinese culture through activities such as cultural performances and music shows.
"Seeing the cultural performances, and being able to wear hanfu [traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group in ancient times] during the Mid-Autumn Festival, has filled me with a strong sense of cultural confidence," said visitor Wu Yiming.
Jinci is a millennium-old temple with over 100 buildings from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (960-1911), more than 100 sculptures, and 30 ancient trees.
Meanwhile, in the renowned cultural city of Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province, a series of events themed 'Come to Fuzhou and Receive Blessings' have been taking place in the city's ancient alleyways, showcasing the unique cultural heritage of the 'Zan' (hairpin).
This traditional art form, part of Fuzhou's intangible cultural heritage, showcases the intricate craftsmanship of hairpins, which symbolize luck and cultural heritage.
"This set of three hairpins I'm wearing weighs 330 grams and combines two elements. First, it features traditional patterns, and second, it incorporates the designs of scissors, razors, and kitchen knives, creating a unique blend of tradition and innovation. We hope that through the efforts of new generations in Fuzhou, we can open a door to this cultural heritage and share it with everyone from a fresh perspective," said Hu Lei, head of the Fuzhou Folklore Costume Team.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Shajing Village in the Banan District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has hosted a lively event showcasing the local tradition of making glutinous rice cakes (ciba), a special delicacy during the festive season.
The villagers gathered early to prepare the delicacy and share it while enjoying cultural performances rich in local flavor.
Many people have also chosen to travel during the holiday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, visiting historical sites and landmarks to relax and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture.
The Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area in Datong City, Shanxi Province, has become a popular destination for tourists during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, offering personalized tours and photography sessions to appreciate the beauty of the ancient cave art.
The site has enhanced its services and activities to accommodate the diverse needs of visitors during the festive period.
Dating back 1,500 years to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535), the Yungang Grottoes boast 45 major caves and more than 59,000 statues. In 2001, they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
In Xihuilijia Village, Jinxian County in east China's Jiangxi Province, the annual tradition of burning brick towers to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival took place on Friday, as villagers and tourists came together to welcome the joyous occasion.
The ancient village’s unique tradition of setting ablaze towering structures symbolizes hope for a bright future and a prosperous life.
At 20:00, three imposing five-meter fire towers, each built from 3,000 red bricks, dominated the village square. Villagers ignited the structures with dried mugwort, followed by larger pieces of wood, creating a fiery spectacle.
As the flames died down, villagers stirred the embers with long poles, sending sparks dancing in the wind, captivating tourists eager to witness this unique tradition.
The tradition of burning brick towers during the Mid-Autumn Festival has been passed down through generations in the village, with a history spanning over 600 years.
China celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with vibrant folk culture activities
Foreign diplomats and scholars are looking closely at this year's "two sessions", saying China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) will not only chart the nation's economic and technological priorities but also reshape global value chains.
The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the nation's top political advisory body, opened on Wednesday, followed by the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday. Together known as the "two sessions," these meetings offer a comprehensive view into China's development priorities.
Global observers emphasized that the 15th Five-Year Plan, a blueprint guiding the nation's economic, social, and technological priorities over the next five years, marks a decisive shift toward high‑quality growth anchored in advanced technologies, with ripple effects across the world.
"The two sessions will discuss China's five-year plan, which is heavily oriented toward China's major technological development. I believe this is important because it represents the new blueprint for China's economy, which is now oriented toward the renowned high-quality development, and this will undoubtedly impact the entire world. I think it is worth studying. This is very important for Latin America. It will help us integrate more intelligently into global value chains and into all aspects of the major development that China is promoting in iconic industrial sectors, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space development, where Latin America also has much to contribute beyond just commercial growth," said Gustavo Sabino Vaca Narvaja, former Argentine Ambassador to China.
"The two sessions are a major political milestone in China, and this year's gathering carries even greater significance as this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan. This plan represents not only a blueprint for China, but also a guide for other countries. Instruments like the five-year plan effectively provide greater certainty and predictability for the rest of the world," said Chilean scholar of international relations Ignacio Araya Heredia.
"This is a particularly important date, especially due to the fact that the next Five-Year Plan shall be positioned and we're going to see what its main elements shall be. Serbia, which has a very high degree of steel friendship with the People's Republic of China, can expect further assistance in identifying the most prominent areas of Serbian economy and being helped by its great partner, such as it has been done in the previous period, from one part with establishing the main infrastructure projects, but also reshaping the industrial sector of Serbia, not just Serbia, but the region as a whole," said Veljko Mijuskovic, assistant professor of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade.
Beyond the policy framework, experts also pointed to China's achievements in green energy and technological innovation as models worth emulating.
Tomasz Bielinski, adjunct professor at the University of Gdansk's Faculty of Economics, said the robotics displays at the 2026 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala reflected China's broader push in technological innovation.
"I was really impressed about the robotics. I'm very impressed with Chinese development in the technological field, we can still make great deals with Chinese businessmen and we can cooperate together to use this technology for both the good of China and the European Union. I'm aware of the innovation especially in autonomous drive on the on the Chinese side," he said.
"We hope for more of China's economic cooperation, especially in trade and also in investment. Also, and the other focus, if I talk about the focus of the development, don't forget about the green energy. We know that China is great in the electric vehicle field. So because China's electric vehicles in Indonesia nowadays, since couple of years ago, are very, very popular," said Al Busyra Basnur, president of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association.
Observers see China's new five-year plan driving high-quality development, global tech shifts
