Mid Autumn Festivities in Beijing?

[yonitabonita]

Hi folks,

Anyone in the know about any mid-Autumn festivities going on in Beijing? I've asked my friends and so far all say they see their families and eat dinner, scoff mooncake, then go to bed.

I have a sneaking suspicion that more goes on here. Is there a hidden (or not so hidden park) somewhere where home made lanterns hang from the trees and glow after dark? Are there public celebrations somewhere? Or is someone going to tell me I can see them in Santa - tooth fairy- garden elf land?

Y

[roddy]

General idea, I think, is that everyone goes out for dinner with friends and family, then goes to the nearest park / bit of open ground to look at the moon. If I remember correctly from previous years, restaurants, the subway and traffic will all be busy as everyone is out at once. So basically, go for food then a walk in the park . . .

[againstwind]

What a lovely suspicion.

I'm not sure, but i think some people will made lanterns hang at festival of lanterns (元宵节).

Public celebration? Probably rare. After all, people here like staying with families of friends.

BTW, according to old traditions, people will sacrifice to the moon for happiness, love and something like that.

p.s.

祝大家中秋佳节愉快！

[elina]

I have not visited there yet, but it’s said it’s worth to go.

北京龙潭灯会

http://www.taitaibang.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardid=28&id=14919&page=1

http://bbs.rmgs.org/dispbbs.asp?boardid=7&id=2324

http://www.pianyijie.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardid=24&id=3005&star=1&page=1

[yonitabonita]

Thanks guys,

I'm going to check out 龙潭公园。Looks good.

大家中秋节愉快。

y

[yonitabonita]

I checked out the Lantern Festival mentioned by Elina at 龙潭公园. There are a few kitch displays but quite a fair few really pretty displays too. There are folks selling 糖葫芦 by the lake and little games that can have you going home with massive beanbag elephants etc.

Each lantern installation is accompanied by a combination of kids songs in English and Chinese. For me at least, it created a 'Twilight Zone'- but- nice sort of atmosphere. Freaky but good. In the evening when the air is cool, lanterns are glowing in the dark, and the water mirrors their luminous reflection, Beijing is bloody grand.

Y

[elina]

Another year’s 北京龙潭灯会 begins. It’s free of ticket till August 24, not every evening but on Friday/Saturday/Sunday evenings, the Lanterns are light, and at around 20:00 the music fountain runs.

No 摆摊 this year.

[skylee]

It's not even 盂蘭 (ghost festival) yet. Seems a bit early to bring up 中秋 (mid-autume festival).

[elina]

In the last two years, 北京龙潭灯会 often begins from the end of September, it started early this year because of the Olympics, on the 免票通知，there’s something like 根据奥运文化广场活动的安排…