Tang Paradise in Xi'an, Shaanxi province (Photo/cnwest.com)
September 15 this year is the fifteenth day of the eighth month in lunar calendar, namely, the Mid-Autumn Day. It is a traditional Chinese festival when families get together, eat mooncakes and enjoy the moon. So here comes the question: Why do we admire the moon on Mid-Autumn Day? In the traditional farming calendar, farmers reap in autumn. In ancient times, people dance and drink to celebrate the successful harvest. Our ancestors worshipped Nature. Emperors used to follow the rite of offering sacrifices to the sun in spring and to the moon in autumn. Weather-wise, at this time of the year, the air is neither humid nor dry, but fresh. And the sky is pretty clear. The large full moon seems too lovely to pass up. Here comes another question: Where should we go to spend the upcoming 3-day holiday with loved ones? Where can we appreciate the fullest and most beautiful moon? And how can we avoid the clouds and rain?
