Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday

Thousands of people in China are celebrating the first day of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday watching dazzling lantern shows and vibrant traditional performances.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions. It falls on Sept. 17 this year.

People are also celebrating the three-day holiday through diverse cultural festivities, including eating mooncakes and appreciating the moon.

In Beijing, residents were in for a treat as authorities staged a grand lantern show. Running from Sunday till the end of October, the lantern show consists of nine themed areas, with over 200 lighting sets on show.

"This is my first time to see such a big lantern show. I'm very excited. It not only has sci-tech features, but also some elements of Chinese tradition. On this special occasion, being able to enjoy this lantern show really means a lot to me," said Wang Sixiang, a local resident.

Meanwhile, Changsha City of central China's Hunan Province has organized various activities incorporating Chinese tradition and intangible cultural heritage.

At Tongguanyao resort, shadow play, an intangible cultural heritage, attracted many tourists. Travelers can also try out Nvshu, a written language developed for and by women in Hunan during ancient times.

Nvshu was usually written on paper or stitched on cloth, and the characters were supposed to make people relate the words to women's postures. Women used Nvshu to communicate with each other, record their daily life, and write songs. The female script was popular in Hunan's Jiangyong County.

"I've tried to make several traditional handcrafts," said Qu Xiangyue, a tourist.

At the same time, Chinese traditional performances, including Flower Drum Opera, bian lian (face-changing) and crosstalk, took center stage in Jinggang Ancient Town. The vibrant performances captivated tourists as they immersed in Chinese culture.

All the while, tourists cruised the Lujiang River in Jinggang, watching modern interpretations of Chinese traditional cultures along the cruise.

"I think this place is really worth visiting. It's very vibrant," said Bai Ge, another tourist.

Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday

Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday

Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday

Dazzling lantern shows, traditional performances take center stage amid Mid-Autumn Festival holiday

The twin giant pandas returned from Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, arrived at a conservation and research base in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on early Wednesday for a quarantine period after they completed their stay in Tokyo's Ueno zoo.

The pair first arrived at an airport in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, before going on to Ya'an.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, which were the last two giant pandas in Japan, departed on Tuesday, marking the first time that there will be no giant pandas in Japan in around half a century.

China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) sent experienced experts to Japan to collaborate with Japanese experts to prepare for the twins' safe and smooth return.

Chinese and Japanese experts accompanied the two giant pandas back to China.

The base in Ya'an said it is fully prepared to receive the giant pandas for the quarantine, with enclosure disinfected, food supply guaranteed, and health safeguards arranged to help them adapt to the local environment as soon as possible.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born in 2021 to their mother, Shin Shin, and her mate, Ri Ri, who were returned to China in September 2024.

Their elder sister, celebrity giant panda Xiang Xiang, returned to China in February 2023.

Returned giant pandas from Japan back home for quarantine period