How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing

How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing

Originally a celebration of harvest during the autumn full moon, this festival is a time of thanksgiving, family dinners, getting outdoors and, mooncakes! Here’s how to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival like a local in Beijing.

No Beijing festivity would be complete without a traditional temple fair, and the best of its kind is to be found around the Lugou Bridge (aka Marco Polo Bridge) area in Wanping Town. Watch all manner of Chinese folk performances, including the iconic lion and dragon dances, and traditional arts and crafts, as well as a clear view of the main spectacle in the sky – the full moon.

At this time of year, Beijingers love to wander among the blossoming ancient osmanthus trees at the Summer Palace, which is worth a trip alone for its eye-popping expanse of lakes, gardens and UNESCO-listed residences. Take a potter around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, before heading to your pre-booked table at luxey kaiseki-style fine-diner Naoki, housed in the palace’s East Gate building.

For hands-down the best views of that dazzling full moon, push the boat out with a trip to Shichahai, a beautiful body of water made up of three lakes. This historic spot comes alive as the sun goes down and merrymakers board one of many boats, offering live traditional Chinese music and song, mooncakes and tea. Book ahead as this Mid-Autumn pursuit is one of the city’s most popular.

You can’t beat the choice of Chinese emperors, which is why aspiring aristos should make for Beihai Park, where you can cruise the lake and take in the reflected scenery. Sealegs not up to much? Moonlight views are equally impressive bankside.

Amble through some 200 ancient trees, including a 1,000-year-old gingko tree, at the Dajue Temple to soak up the spiritual side of the Mid-Autumn festival. Sitting pretty in the western district of Haidian, this C.11th Buddhist temple is blessed with a babbling mountain stream which gathers in a central pond. Look out for the turtles and goldfish which have been released as offerings to Buddha.

Lugou Bridge / Fengtai

Summer Palace / Haidian / +86 10 6288 1144 / 6.30am-6pm daily / summerpalace-china.com

Naoki / 1 Gongming Qian Lu / +86 10 5987 9999 / lunch & dinner daily

Beihai Park / 1 Wenjin Lu / Xicheng / +86 10 6403 3225

Dajue Temple / 9 Dajuesi Lu / Haidian / +86 10 6245 6189