CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala brings cultural heritage into modern era

China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala started at 20:00 Beijing Time on Friday, allowing audiences around the world to witness an annual celebration that integrates diverse performances with Chinese cultural heritage and the spirit of the times.

The annual gala broadcast, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was recorded in Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, the birthplace of the ancient text recording the legend of Chang'e flying to the moon.

Set against the backdrop of Xuan paper, a delicate and durable type of paper traditionally used for Chinese calligraphy and painting and an iconic intangible cultural heritage of Anhui, the main stage of the gala created an immersive space where reality and imagination blend seamlessly, with a prominent 18-meter-diameter "moon" that can move horizontally.

The gala opened with Drums Echo by Huaihe River, a drum performance deeply integrating China's 24 solar terms, to warm up the audience.

The 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago by the ancient Chinese to guide agricultural production. Huainan is home to a complete record of how the 24 solar terms follow nature's rhythms.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 24 solar terms being inscribed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The year of 2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China's first national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Unfolding in three chapters, the gala centered on the cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn moon and featured traditional art forms including Huagudeng folk dance, shadow puppetry and tofu banquets, presented in more interactive and contemporary ways.

This year also marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March and the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's space program.

The gala highlighted these major milestones by blending revolutionary heritage, space exploration dream, and a warm family reunion atmosphere.

The gala was broadcast live globally on various CMG TV channels, including CCTV-1, CCTV-3 and CCTV-4, as well as on new media and overseas social media platforms. It was also available on mainstream media outlets in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Friday this year. Around China, people celebrate the day by gathering for moon-gazing, eating mooncakes, and lighting colorful lanterns.

CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala brings cultural heritage into modern era

China's compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance expanded coverage and strengthened risk protection in 2025, according to the National Financial Regulatory Administration.

As of the end of last year, the number of motor vehicles covered by the insurance nationwide reached 386 million, a year-on-year increase of 3.8 percent, while claims payments totaled 252.4 billion yuan (about 37.61 billion U.S. dollars), up 11.6 percent year on year, according to data released by the administration on Thursday.

As a mandatory coverage, its reach expanded steadily while playing a significantly larger role in safeguarding public welfare.

"In 2025, the proportion of compensation for personal injury accidents in total accident payouts rose from 16 percent to 18 percent, further highlighting the protective role of the compulsory motor insurance for a wide range of road users, including non-motorized vehicle drivers and passengers," said Wang Simiao, chief executive officer of Insurance Association of China.

Data from the Insurance Association of China shows that since the comprehensive auto insurance reform in 2020, the liability limit for the insurance has increased from 122,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan, providing traffic accident victims with more comprehensive medical treatment and financial compensation.

In terms of claims settlement, the insurance industry has leveraged digital tools such as video inspections and AI-powered damage assessment to accelerate the implementation of fast-track claims mechanisms.

At the same time, insurance companies have provided upgraded services to traffic accident victims, including hospital fast-track access and full advance payment of medical expenses, ensuring that victims receive timely medical treatment.

China’s compulsory auto insurance coverage expands in 2025