Why autumn is one of the best times of year to visit China

China is without a doubt one of the world’s most fascinating travel destinations. It has a population of over 1.35 billion people, making it home to a fifth of the entire world’s people. It is also the world’s second largest country by land area, covering in the region of 9.6 million square kilometres.

Having been cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, China now has the fastest growing economy. This has led to a steep rise in the number of people booking China holidays. With things changing at such a fast rate, people are choosing to holiday sooner rather than later, so as not to miss out on some of the more traditional, and fascinating culture China has to offer.

China Holidays can be booked all year round, however if you are a culture lover, check out what festivals take place throughout the year, so that you can plan your trip accordingly.

Autumn is a particularly popular time to visit, as this is when the second most important festival, takes place.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese Han calendar, on the night of the full moon.

The festival itself celebrates three main concepts, all of which are closely associated with each other:

Gathering – the coming together of friends and family, and the harvesting of the crops

Thanksgiving – the act of giving thanks for the harvest

Praying – the asking of satisfaction: prayers are said for babies, a spouse, beauty, longevity, and a good future

One of the most important parts of the ceremony involves the worship of the moon. This explains why you may hear the Mid-Autumn Festival referred to as the Moon Festival. It is also sometimes called the Mooncake Festival, as this is traditionally what is consumed on this occasion.

Another practice associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival is the carrying of lanterns. Traditionally the lanterns were used to symbolize fertility, and act as decoration, however nowadays the lanterns are what symbolizes the festival itself.

If you would like to experience the festival for yourself, make sure you check the lunar calendar as the date obviously changes each year. Here at Emperor Tours, we organise your travel arrangements, so you can sit back and relax. Not only will booking one of our China Tours ensure that you are in the right place at the right time, it is a great way to meet people and make new friends.