The Mid-Autumn Festival is a thrilling pan-Asian holiday filled with joy and gratitude for the harvest.
When the autumn moon hangs like a luminous pearl over Asia's bustling cities and quiet villages, it signals the start of one of the continent's most cherished celebrations. From Hanoi streets filled with children's lantern parades to serene moon viewings in Tokyo, the Mid-Autumn Festival transforms ordinary neighborhoods into magical nocturnal gatherings.
The festival, also called the Moon Festival or the Lantern Festival, is rooted in ancient agricultural traditions and moon worship. It is observed across East and Southeast Asia beginning on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, falling in mid-September to early October on the Western calendar. During the festival, families across Asia gather, express gratitude for nature's bounty, and admire the beauty of the full moon.
They also party with parades, lanterns, lion dances, and lots of eating, all dedicated to the moon. Until fairly recently this was a strictly Asian holiday. But now, word has gotten out and the festivities draw visitors from around the world. This year the Mid-Autumn Festival begins on October 6, with local celebrations in many Asian countries. Read about the exciting celebrations below, then check out our trips to those destinations to see which sparks you. Remember what you see on our site are just suggested itineraries. We will customize any trip to meet your needs. Contact us for help getting started.
China: In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiū Jié) is one of the country’s most important holidays. Families reunite for a celebratory dinner, often featuring a round table symbolizing unity. Moon-gazing, lantern shows, opera performances, and tasty street snacks are vital parts of the celebration. The mooncake (月饼, yuèbǐng), a dense pastry with various fillings like lotus seed paste, red bean, or egg yolk, and stamped with intricate patterns that tell ancient stories, is the quintessential festival food. Stories of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, and the Jade Rabbit are shared, adding a mythical touch to the festivities.
Lion dances are an important part of Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations throughout Asia.
Vietnam: Known as Tết Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is a special time for children. Carrying brightly colored lanterns, they form raucous processions and tour their neighborhoods while singing. A male dancer wearing a round happy-face mask symbolizing the moon urges lion dancers on and delights the crowd with his comical moves. This is the Earth God, Ông Địa, who represents the fullness of the Earth and reminds onlookers to give thanks for its bounty. The Vietnamese have many special treats for the holiday. Like the Chinese, they feast on elaborately decorated mooncakes (bánh trung thu) in different variations, like sticky rice, (bánh dẻo) and baked (bánh nướng). These are often embellished with molded flowers, carp, or geometric patterns.
Japan: In Japan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is called Tsukimi (月見), meaning "moon viewing." It's a more tranquil holiday than in other countries, focusing on appreciating the beauty of the moon. People decorate with pampas grass (susuki) and offer seasonal fruits, taro, and dumplings (tsukimi dango) to the moon. Unlike the elaborate lanterns of other countries, the focus is on the natural beauty of the moonlit sky.
Many Koreans wear traditional hanbok for Chuseok celebrations.
South Korea: Chuseok (추석, autumn evening), is one of the most significant holidays in South Korea. Families gather to perform ancestral rites (charye) and visit their ancestral hometowns. They eat songpyeon (송편), small rice cakes filled with sweet fillings like sesame seeds or red bean paste, and various kinds of sweet foods made with tteok (rice cake), or hangwa. Many Koreans dress in the traditional hanbok for Chuseok festivities. People also play games and enjoy folk dances under the full moon.
Taiwan: Taiwan celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with traditions similar to those of mainland China, including mooncakes and lantern displays. A unique Taiwanese custom, barbecuing outdoors with family and friends, has become increasingly popular in recent years.
The celebration's not complete without a taste of a beautifully decorated mooncake.
Indonesia: In Indonesia, the Mid-Autumn Festival is known as Festival Kue Bulan (Mooncake Festival). Chinese-Indonesian communities celebrate with mooncakes and lantern processions, often held in temples and community centers. The festivities are a vibrant display of cultural heritage and community spirit.
Cambodia: In Cambodia, the Mid-Autumn Festival is known as Pithi Sampreah Preah Khae, or Moon Festival. People offer prayers and gifts to the moon, often including new rice and harvest fruits. The festival is a time for family gatherings and expressing gratitude for the harvest.
Singapore: In Singapore, Chinatown comes alive with dazzling lantern displays and mooncake stalls pop up across the island. Families gather for moon viewing and enjoy a variety of mooncakes, from traditional baked versions to modern snow-skin mooncakes.
Thailand: (เทศกาลไหว้พระจันทร์ - Tesaban Wai Phra Chan) Thai celebrations blend Chinese immigrant traditions with local customs. Lantern releases, mooncake sharing, and community gatherings are common. Some regions incorporate traditional dance performances and elaborate street decorations.
If you want to experience the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2025, we can help you plan the perfect trip. Check out our Asia trips then contact us to get started. Remember we can custom-design any trip to suit your specifications.
Opening photo: Lantern release, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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