China Media Group's (CMG's) Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, which is set to air on Tuesday night to celebrate the moon-themed traditional festival, will stage a warm scene of family reunion and artistic interpretation of major events of the year from the perspective of ordinary people.
The annual gala, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, will spotlight key topics of interest for audiences at home and abroad, including the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China, and significant milestones such as the Chang'e-6 space missions and the Paris Olympics.
The gala was recorded in Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a 2,300-year-old city boasting three world cultural heritage sites and over 1,500 historical and cultural sites. The city is also one of the most well-known industrial cities in China.
Many performances of the gala will incorporate local elements such as Shenyang Guan's Shadow Puppetry, Errenzhuan (a blend of storytelling, singing and dancing between two performers) and 13 landmarks including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, the Liaoning Provincial Museum, the China Industrial Museum, and the Old North Market, to present the audience Shenyang's history and cultural charm, according to Yang Qifang, general planner of the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.
"Many performances are on very serious topics, such as the return of People's Volunteer Army veterans and the rejuvenation of the old heavy industrial base. We will present them in a very tender way," Yang said, referring to return of remains of Chinese soldiers who fell in action in the 1950-1953 Korean War.
French pianist Richard Clayderman, Hungarian pianist Balazs Havasi and Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen will also join the grand event to share the warm and romantic moments with global audience.
In addition, full moon pictures collected through global social media will also be displayed at the gala, allowing the audience to appreciate the beauty of the moonlight from all over the world.
"The Chinese people have a deep devotion to circle. When the moon becomes a full circle, families reunite, symbolizing a perfect conclusion after a year of anticipation and waiting," Yang said.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions in China. It falls on Tuesday this year.
CMG's 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala to highlight family reunion, major events
Revolution-themed tourism, which refers to visiting historical sites with a modern legacy of the Chinese revolution leading to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, has attracted more young people so far in the week-long National Day holiday that started on October 1, as many museums and scenic spots have adopted cutting-edge technologies and introduced interactive experiences, injecting new vitality into the preservation and development of "red culture".
"Red culture" refers to the "red legacies" and "red spirit" that have emerged during China's revolution, construction and reform under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, in order to achieve national independence, economic progress, cultural prosperity and national rejuvenation.
The large-scale "red culture" live-action drama "Hong'an Always Red", made its debut during the National Day holiday in Hong'an County of Huanggang City in central China's Hubei Province -- a leading revolutionary base of the CPC in the 1930s.
The production combines real-life props with sound, lighting, and special effects to create an immersive interactive experience.
"Compared to traditional red dramas, it offers a stronger sense of technology and immersion. It allows us, as people living nowadays, to feel as if we were crossing back into that era. I believe our life today is truly hard-won," said Ruan Hongying, a tourist.
Bringing red culture to life has become a common goal for many scenic spots rich in red cultural resources. In Xianfeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hubei Province, during the National Day holiday, many visitors used VR panoramic experience stations to immerse themselves in classic scenes from the Long March of the Red Army.
In Yudu County of Ganzhou City, east China's Jiangxi Province, the large-scale red cultural and tourism epic "The First Crossing of the Long March" is spectacularly performed at the Long March assembly site. Audience members are able to experience an immersive journey through time, reliving the heroic and turbulent years of that historic era.
The Long March was a strategic operation undertaken by the CPC-led Red Army when being pursued by hordes of Kuomintang (KMT) troops between 1934-1936.
The 12,500-kilometer march began with over 80,000 soldiers in Ruijin and Gucheng in Jiangxi Province, and ended in Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
In Zibo City of east China's Shandong Province, at the 618 Wartime Radio Station Red Education Base, numerous visitors venture into the deep, dark tunnels to experience that unique period of history.
"I think it is incredibly meaningful for me to visit a Chinese revolution-themed education base during the National Day holiday. I was deeply moved by the spirit of perseverance and hard work of the people at that time, which inspires us young people to forge ahead and keep advancing," said Cui Yujiao, a tourist.
Revolution-themed tourism inspires more young people with advanced technology
