China Media Group (CMG) is set to begin airing the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala to the global audience at the prime viewing time of 20:00 on Monday, to mark the moon-themed traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, highlighting the warm scene of family reunion and artistic interpretation of ordinary people's deep affection for the country.
The CMG, the national flagship broadcaster, earlier Monday released the program lineup for the highly anticipated 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, offering the public a glimpse into its dazzling array of performances.
Set against the natural landscape of Deyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the gala features over 30 programs across three chapters, creating a poetic scene where moonlight bathes the land and heartfelt emotions fill the air.
Instead of having performances on a traditional indoor stage, the gala will be presented on a main stage built on the picturesque Xuanzhu Lake in Deyang, backed by a full-scale theatrical canvas -- blurring the line between performance and landscape.
"The choice of the gala's main stage is truly thoughtful. The Xuanzhu Lake itself integrates real landscapes of mountains and rivers, where you can see the bell and drum tower of the city right above. The grand avenue in front of the tower offers a striking visual effect, giving a sense of travel in time as if one could instantly glimpse a thousand years bridging the ancient and the modern," said Yang Qifang, chief writer for the gala.
In addition to traditions and festival symbols, the gala will present performances marking significant historical anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 70th anniversary of the founding of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the 60th anniversary of the founding of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, integrating these milestones into its thematic elements.
At the gala, singer Zhou Shen and the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra will perform "Return," the thematic song of Chinese historical drama series "The Long Way Back."
The TV series is produced by the CMG to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the song's lyrics, in Chinese and Russian, depicts the touching images of soldiers staying true to their beliefs and aspiring for victory in extremely tough conditions.
The gala will also present three classic songs carrying the memory of the Anti-Fascist War, namely "Flowers in May," "As Time Goes By" and "La Vie en Rose." Born respectively in China, the United States and France, the songs demonstrate the pursuit of happiness by people in different countries amid war and convey their common aspiration for peace and a bright future.
"[Through the song singing], we would like to express some best wishes to all the viewers watching the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala," said Yu Kewei, the singer who will sing the songs "As Time Goes By" and "La Vie en Rose" at the gala.
As this year marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema, the gala invites filmmakers from three generations for the program "Moonlight on the Screen," evoking the memories and emotional resonance of several generations.
As parts of the scenes for the gala were videotaped in Deyang, this year's gala incorporates many elements of local characteristics.
"I think Deyang is a city with a strong sense of life and profound cultural heritage. If I have the chance, I will definitely come back again," said Tan Jianci, a performer at the gala.
Nestled on the fertile Chengdu Plain, Deyang blends modern industrial prowess with the legacy of the ancient Shu Kingdom that mysteriously vanished some 2,000 years ago. It is home to the 3,000-year-old archaeological site of Sanxingdui, a revolutionary 20th-century find that has unveiled new clues about the brilliance and sophistication of early Chinese civilization.
The gala will be broadcast live globally on various CMG TV channels, including CCTV-1, CCTV-3, CCTV-4, and CCTV-5, as well as on new media platforms and overseas social media accounts.
It will also be aired simultaneously on mainstream media in other countries, such as the United States, the Untied Arab Emirates, Kenya, Colombia and Sri Lanka, as well as regions like Hong Kong and Macao.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This year, the festival falls on Monday.
During the festival, family members gather to admire the moon, share mooncakes and light lanterns to enjoy the happiness of family reunion.
CMG set to air 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala to global audiences
