This weekend marks the start of the October holidays, as well as the Mid-Autumn Festival. The latter celebrates the end of the fall harvest, and is traditionally a time to be with family. Observances include eating mooncakes, carrying lanterns, and viewing the moon. Not sure where to go? We’ve got a host of suggestions after the jump.
1. Events with dates:
Saturday, September 29
Family Mooncake Making
For one day only, Green T. House Living is offering family mooncake making sessions with professional supervision and high-quality ingredients. Once you’re done, walk around the restaurant’s expansive grounds, pamper yourself with a French-style massage, or sample some of Green T. House’s fusion dishes.
Family Mooncake Making
For one day only, Green T. House Living is offering family mooncake making sessions with professional supervision and high-quality ingredients. Once you’re done, walk around the restaurant’s expansive grounds, pamper yourself with a French-style massage, or sample some of Green T. House’s fusion dishes.
Saturday, September 29
Marvelous Mooncakes
The Hutong Kitchen‘s Chef Vivienne hosts a mooncake making workshop with three types of mooncakes. The class includes instructions on making mooncake skins, as well as meat, red bean, coconut, and sesame seed fillings.
Marvelous Mooncakes
The Hutong Kitchen‘s Chef Vivienne hosts a mooncake making workshop with three types of mooncakes. The class includes instructions on making mooncake skins, as well as meat, red bean, coconut, and sesame seed fillings.
Sunday, September 30
Mid-Autumn Feast at Xiaolumian
Escape the crowds in Beijing and head to Huairou District for a traditional feast prepared by orchard restaurant Xiaolumian. The menu includes homemade pickled veggies, stewed pork with fresh chestnuts, sesame shaobing, chicken soup, mooncakes, and more. Plus, there’ll be a moon viewing and a live folk band. What’s more romantic than that?
Mid-Autumn Feast at Xiaolumian
Escape the crowds in Beijing and head to Huairou District for a traditional feast prepared by orchard restaurant Xiaolumian. The menu includes homemade pickled veggies, stewed pork with fresh chestnuts, sesame shaobing, chicken soup, mooncakes, and more. Plus, there’ll be a moon viewing and a live folk band. What’s more romantic than that?
2. Traditional activities:
Head to Houhai
Last year, my partner and I spent Mid-Autumn Festival in Houhai with my dad. Though it was a nightmare pushing through the crowds, we eventually wound up on a rooftop terrace with a bottle of beer each and some mooncakes. Afterwards, we walked along the edge of the lake and took in the scenery. This outing is better-suited to older kids and teens who aren’t afraid to push back. A word to the wise: Avoid boating at all costs. Not only will prices be higher, but arguments regularly break out when bottlenecks inevitably happen.
Last year, my partner and I spent Mid-Autumn Festival in Houhai with my dad. Though it was a nightmare pushing through the crowds, we eventually wound up on a rooftop terrace with a bottle of beer each and some mooncakes. Afterwards, we walked along the edge of the lake and took in the scenery. This outing is better-suited to older kids and teens who aren’t afraid to push back. A word to the wise: Avoid boating at all costs. Not only will prices be higher, but arguments regularly break out when bottlenecks inevitably happen.
Visit the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is renowned for its sweet osmanthus trees, which flower between late September and early October every year. Stroll along Kungming Lake, Longevity Hill, or simply enjoy the scent of the flowers.
The Summer Palace is renowned for its sweet osmanthus trees, which flower between late September and early October every year. Stroll along Kungming Lake, Longevity Hill, or simply enjoy the scent of the flowers.
Cross Marco Polo Bridge
Located in Fengtai District, Marco Polo Bridge is also known as Lugou Bridge. The area traditionally holds a temple fair during Mid-Autumn Festival, with performances, folk art, and street food.
Located in Fengtai District, Marco Polo Bridge is also known as Lugou Bridge. The area traditionally holds a temple fair during Mid-Autumn Festival, with performances, folk art, and street food.
For more ideas, check out Events.
Photo by eviltomthai via Flickr
