Expats join Wuxi locals to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

Some 120 expats got together with locals to enjoy some culture and experience the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Sept 22.

Melanie Fraser, a participant from New Zealand, said she was amazed to see a Chinese opera in one of the huge plazas in Wuxi. She even got the chance to try some Chinese opera moves on stage with guidance from local professional artist Wang Xinhai at the launching ceremony.

The enthusiastic group then walked along some of Wuxi’s busiest streets and collected memorabilia stamps at five major viewpoints including the T12 Shopping Mall, the KFC outlet at Chong’an Temple and the Chinese Silk Industry Museum. Goutam Seen, an art teacher from Wuxi No. 1 High School, collected the five stamps with a willing spirit. Given a lantern to paint by himself at T12, he showed off his painting skills with a striking portrait. Goutam also enjoyed exploring the city’s culture at the final spot, the Chinese Opera Wharf.

“The stamp collecting walks, the mind blowing opera performances on stage and the sumptuous Chinese traditional dinner along with a box of KFC chicken too. The whole experience was a memorable one,” said Goutam.

The day ended with a feast of mooncakes and local specialties such as steamed buns accompanied by performances from foreigners and some Chinese opera at the beautiful Chinese Opera Wharf.

According to Husnain Raza, an international student from Jiangnan University, the occasion provided a chance not only to explore new places but also to meet more people from around the world. “The traditional performances were amazing, you could never see them anywhere else,” he added.

The event was also a lot of fun for children as they explored the city’s culture.

According to Cheng Wanlan, a local mother who brought her two sons to the event, the kids found it interesting to learn traditional Chinese culture just by taking a walk. For them, the day’s festival experience was unforgettable.

The cultural event also meant a lot to the British family of Lee Brown and Jessica Boulton and their three daughters who had arrived in Wuxi just seven weeks ago. “The people have been so hospitable and friendly towards us. Today was an opportunity to see beautiful Wuxi from noon until night! We had an amazing time with people i can now call friends!” said Jessica.

Mid-Autumn Festival is the second-biggest festival after the Chinese New Year. This year it falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Sept 24. It's a time when families come together to appreciate the full moon and eat mooncakes.

The Mid-Autumn Festival party is one of a series of cultural events of "Love in Wuxi" organized by the city’s publicity department. Government officials such as Mi Junchu, deputy secretary general of the Wuxi municipal government, and Cai Wenyi, deputy head of the Wuxi publicity department, attended the launching ceremony and sent festival wishes to one and all.