The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiū Jié), also called the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is the second most important traditional holiday in China after Chinese New Year. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest of the year.
In 2026, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be celebrated on Friday, September 25. The public holiday in mainland China runs from September 25 to 27.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the festival — its origins, legends, traditional foods, and how Chinese families celebrate today.
The Date and Significance
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated for over 3,000 years, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). The festival centers on the full moon, which in Chinese culture symbolizes reunion (团圆, tuányuán) and completeness (圆满, yuánmǎn) .
Unlike the fixed dates of the Gregorian calendar, the festival date shifts each year because it follows the lunar calendar:
| Year | Date | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | September 25 | September 25–27 |
| 2027 | September 15 | September 15 |
| 2028 | October 3 | October 1–3 |
| 2029 | September 22 | September 21–23 |
| 2030 | September 12 | September 12–14 |
The festival is a statutory public holiday in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore.
The Three Great Legends of Mid-Autumn Festival
1. Chang’e Flying to the Moon (嫦娥奔月, Cháng’é Bēn Yuè)
The most famous Mid-Autumn legend tells the story of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess.
According to the myth, there were once ten suns in the sky that scorched the earth. A heroic archer named Hou Yi (后羿, Hòu Yì) shot down nine of them, saving humanity. As a reward, the Queen Mother of the West gave him an elixir of immortality.
Hou Yi did not want to become immortal without his wife, Chang’e, so he asked her to keep the elixir safe. One day, while Hou Yi was away, a greedy apprentice named Peng Meng broke into their home and demanded the elixir. To prevent him from taking it, Chang’e swallowed the elixir herself.
She immediately floated up into the sky and landed on the moon, where she remains to this day. Heartbroken, Hou Yi would set out offerings of fruits and mooncakes on the night of the full moon, hoping to see his wife’s shadow on the lunar surface.
Today, families continue this tradition by setting up moon-viewing tables with offerings — and children often try to spot Chang’e’s silhouette on the moon.
2. The Jade Rabbit (玉兔, Yù Tù)
Also living on the moon is the Jade Rabbit, a companion to Chang’e. The rabbit is said to sit under a cassia tree (桂花树, guìhuā shù), pounding medicinal herbs with a mortar and pestle to create the elixir of life.
In Chinese folklore, the rabbit’s silhouette can be seen on the surface of the full moon — a pattern that many cultures also interpret as “the man in the moon,” but in China, it is a rabbit.
The Jade Rabbit is a beloved figure in Chinese culture, appearing in children’s stories, animated films, and even on China’s lunar rover Yutu (玉兔, “Jade Rabbit”), which landed on the moon in 2013.
3. Wu Gang Chopping the Cassia Tree (吴刚伐桂, Wú Gāng Fá Guì)
The third legend tells of Wu Gang, a man who was punished by the Jade Emperor for his arrogance. He was sent to the moon and ordered to cut down a cassia tree that would magically heal itself after each strike.
Wu Gang has been chopping the tree for thousands of years, never able to finish his task — a Chinese version of the myth of Sisyphus. The story serves as a moral lesson about humility and the consequences of pride.
How Chinese Families Celebrate
Eating Mooncakes (吃月饼, Chī Yuèbǐng)
Mooncakes are the iconic food of the Mid-Autumn Festival. These round pastries symbolize family reunion and completeness, matching the shape of the full moon.
Traditional mooncake styles:
- Cantonese-style (广式月饼, Guǎngshì Yuèbǐng) — The most common type, with a golden-brown crust and fillings like lotus seed paste (莲蓉, liánróng), red bean paste (豆沙, dòushā), or five nuts (五仁, wǔrén), often with a salted egg yolk center
- Snow skin mooncakes (冰皮月饼, Bīngpí Yuèbǐng) — A modern variation with a chewy, refrigerated crust, popular in Hong Kong and southern China
- Suzhou-style (苏式月饼, Sūshì Yuèbǐng) — Flaky, layered pastry similar to puff pastry, filled with pork or sweet bean paste
- Beijing-style (京式月饼, Jīngshì Yuèbǐng) — Thinner crust with lighter, less oily fillings
In recent years, creative mooncake flavors have exploded — ice cream mooncakes, matcha, durian, chocolate, and even “stinky tofu” mooncakes for the adventurous eater.
Mooncake etiquette tip: Mooncakes are typically cut into small wedges and shared among family members, accompanied by tea. They are also the most common gift exchanged during the festival. If you receive mooncakes as a gift, it is polite to accept with both hands and express gratitude.
Appreciating the Full Moon (赏月, Shǎng Yuè)
On the evening of the festival, families gather outdoors — on balconies, in gardens, or in parks — to admire the full moon. The tradition of moon-gazing (赏月, shǎng yuè) has inspired countless Chinese poems, paintings, and songs over the centuries.
The famous Tang Dynasty poem Quiet Night Thought (静夜思, Jìng Yè Sī) by Li Bai (李白, Lǐ Bái) captures the sentiment:
床前明月光，疑是地上霜。 举头望明月，低头思故乡。
Before my bed, the moonlight bright — I thought it was frost upon the ground. I raise my head to view the moon, Then lower it, thinking of home.
Family Reunion Dinner (团圆饭, Tuányuán Fàn)
Like Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions. Extended family members travel home to share a large dinner. Traditional foods served include:
- Pomelo (柚子, yòuzi) — The Chinese word for pomelo sounds like “to have” (有, yǒu) and “child” (子, zǐ), symbolizing fertility and prosperity
- Taro (芋头, yùtóu) — Its harvest season coincides with the festival
- River snails (田螺, tiánluó) — A traditional delicacy in southern China, believed to sharpen eyesight when eaten under the full moon
- Osmanthus cake (桂花糕, guìhuā gāo) — Made from the fragrant osmanthus flowers that bloom in autumn
Carrying Lanterns (提灯笼, Tí Dēnglóng)
Lanterns are an essential part of the Mid-Autumn Festival, especially for children. Unlike the Spring Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuánxiāo Jié), which closes the Chinese New Year period, Mid-Autumn lanterns are smaller and more casual.
Children carry brightly colored paper lanterns — often shaped like rabbits, moons, or stars — through parks and neighborhoods. In Hong Kong and Macau, spectacular lantern carnivals and light displays draw large crowds.
Moon Worship (拜月, Bài Yuè)
An ancient tradition dating back 3,000 years, moon worship involves setting up a table under the moonlight with mooncakes, fruits, and incense. Families bow to the moon, make wishes, and offer gratitude for the harvest and family blessings.
After the ritual, the offerings are shared and eaten — believed to carry the moon’s blessings.
Where to Experience Mid-Autumn Festival
Top destinations in China:
- Hong Kong — The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance (大坑舞火龙, Dà Kēng Wǔ Huǒlóng) features a 67-meter-long fire dragon carried through the streets by hundreds of performers
- Beijing — The Summer Palace and Beihai Park host traditional moon-gazing events with cultural performances
- Hangzhou — West Lake (西湖, Xī Hú) is famous for “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon” (三潭印月, Sān Tán Yìn Yuè), a scenic spot designed for moon appreciation
- Guangzhou — Massive lantern fairs fill Yuexiu Park with elaborate displays
- Macau — The Ruins of St. Paul’s and the Macau Tower host spectacular lantern shows and fireworks
Beyond China:
- Singapore — The Gardens by the Bay Mid-Autumn celebration features huge lantern installations and a night market
- Malaysia — Penang and Kuala Lumpur hold vibrant lantern festivals and mooncake fairs
- San Francisco — Chinatown’s Autumn Moon Festival is one of the largest in North America
Practical Tips for Travelers
If you plan to visit China during the Mid-Autumn Festival:
- Book transportation early — This is one of the busiest travel periods in China. Trains and flights fill up weeks in advance as millions of people travel home for family reunions.
- Expect crowded attractions — Popular moon-gazing spots and lantern displays will be packed.
- Try mooncakes — But buy them from reputable bakeries. Gift boxes are available at every supermarket and bakery starting about a month before the festival.
- Join a moon-gazing event — Many parks, hotels, and cultural venues host organized moon-viewing parties.
- Learn the greeting — Say “中秋节快乐” (Zhōngqiū Jié Kuàilè, “Happy Mid-Autumn Festival”) to locals. The response is the same phrase.
The Deeper Meaning
Beyond the mooncakes and lanterns, the Mid-Autumn Festival reflects a core Chinese value: the importance of family reunion. The full moon serves as a reminder that even when separated by distance, families are connected by the same sky.
For Chinese people living abroad, the festival often carries an extra layer of emotion — a longing for home captured perfectly in the Chinese phrase “望月思乡” (wàng yuè sī xiāng) — “gazing at the moon, thinking of home.”
Whether you are celebrating with family in China or experiencing the festival abroad, the Mid-Autumn Festival offers a beautiful window into Chinese culture’s deep appreciation for nature, family, and tradition.
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