Best Places to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a family celebration and usually many outdoor activities are arranged especially for the event. On the evening of a Mid-Autumn Festival, families stay up late and get together eating moon cakes and gazing at the moon.

Want to join in?

We select the best places that Beijing local people and tourists would always crowd into. There, you will have an authentic Beijing Mid-Autumn festival as the locals do.

1. Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge)

A temple fair is held at Wanping Town east of Lugou Bridge each year to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The temple fair is a kind of traditional cultural event, which features all kinds of Chinese folk art. The event is usually held on festive or specified days, such as during the Chinese New Year. A visit to a temple fair is a cultural experience, with a great chance to watch and appreciate Chinese traditional folk art, such as performances of lion and dragon dances, and demonstrations of traditional arts and crafts. In addition, it provides a good opportunity to experience the local lifestyle by rubbing shoulders with the locals.

Location: 15 km (10 miles) southwest of Tiananmen Square, Fengtai District.

2. CCTV Tower (中央电视塔）

The CCTV Tower is 385 meters (1260 ft) high. At  221 meters (725 ft) high is a revolving restaurant. It serves a Western buffet (mainly French and Italian), Chinese and Japanese styles, together with various barbeques. There is an open platform at 238 meters (781 ft) up. Telescopes have been set up in each direction for visitors to have a clear elevated view of Beijing. See how do the other tourists plan a CCTV Tower tour..

Location: West Third Ringroad Central, Haidian District.

3. Beihai Park 北海公园

Beihai Park was chosen by generations of Chinese emperors and high officials to watch the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Beijing locals like to take a cruise on the lake to take in the night scenery on the banks, and the moon reflection in the water. The park will stay open until 9pm that night. A variety of boats are available for use for the festival. More info about Beijinghai Park.

Location: northwest of the Forbidden City, Xicheng District

3. Shichahai 什刹海

Shichahai is the oldest water area within Beijing. As night falls, wooden boats travel elegantly on the water. In the boat, a woman in Qipao plays a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Mooncakes and tea are served. The boat company may raise prices for the boat cruise during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Advance bookings are needed as the demand is great. More info about Shichahai.

Location: Xihai, Houhai and Qianhai, north of Beihai, Xicheng District. 

4. Yangtaishan；阳台山

Yangtaishan is well-known for its full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival evening. Friends and family can walk along the tree-lined path, enjoying the fresh air, or they can go fishing or set up campfire by the Riyuehu, Sun and Moon Lake.

Location: 30 km (20 miles) northwest of Tian’anmen, in Haidian District.  
Transportation: Take bus 346 at the Forbidden City and get off at North Anhe Station (北安河).

5. Dajue Temple: 大觉寺

Dajue Temple is located at the southern foot of Yangtaishan in the west suburbs of Beijing. The temple was built in 1068. On the temple grounds, there are over 160 ancient trees, with an old gingko tree over 1000 years old.  Fresh water from the spring is collected in the Dragon

Pool and runs in little channels through the temple grounds, giving it a pleasant atmosphere. 
Minghui Teahouse sits in a quiet, carefully renovated courtyard of the temple. The teahouse provides Shaoxing-style buffet dinners and traditional music performances. During the Mid-Autumn Festival visitors can enjoy themselves with good food and sweet tea under the full moon.

Transportation:

Public Buses: Buses on route 903 depart every half an hour from the Forbidden City to Dajue Temple.

Train: There are trains from Beijing South Train Station to Dajue Temple. China Train Search.   

6. The Summer Palace 颐和园

It is customary for local Beijingers to go to the Summer Palace to see the osmanthus flowers during the Mid-Autumn Festival. A less known attraction in the Summer Palace, the 72 ancient osmanthus trees make their contributions to the beauty of the imperial garden by their sweet flowers in fall. Family and friends can opt for a walk among the osmanthus trees, or take a boat ride along the lakes to enjoy the lakeside scenery. Boat rides during the Mid-Autumn Festival are very popular and are usually short of demand, so booking in advance is recommended. More info about Summer Palace.

Plan a Beijing Mid-Autumn Festival Tour? Take our customized 4 Days Beijing Mid-Autumn Festival Tour as a referrence.

Read More

• Customs of Mid-Autumn Festival
• All about Chinese Mooncakes