Beijing, as the time honored capital of China, is visited by a large number of tourists every year. On Sep 22 comes the Mid-Autumn Festival which is to be celebrated in Beijing during 22-24th and are going to become a definite attraction for tourists.
The Mid Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu Jie), also called the Moon Festival, is held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month (lunar calendar) and is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in Beijing. The festival is during the harvest time in China, so it is celebrated as a symbol of abundance and happiness. It is also regarded as a family reunion day. On this day, people view the full moon with their family members, lovers or friends, after which they would celebrate together by feasting and drinking wine.
Every year, Chinese people pay tribute to Lord Rabbit for the day by tradition. This year, Mid-Autumn Festival, in Beijing, has its own image ambassador – the new "Lord Rabbit" designed by Wu Guanying, one of designers of FuWa, mascot of Beijing Olympics. The new "Lord Rabbit" is a figure mixed with human characteristics and rabbit: human eyes, eyebrows, the golden hat of an ancient Chinese military officer, two rabbits' ears poking out, a piece of armor on its right shoulder, a red gown with blue landscape scenery, a pair of officer's boots on its feet, a belt in its left hand and a hammer for pounding Chinese medicine in its right hand. According to an officer of Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, the reason that they are using "Lord Rabbit" as Beijing's ambassador for Mid-Autumn Festival is not only because it is a folk symbol but also it carries the romantic disposition of Beijingers. The new image of "Lord Rabbit" has also completed its copyright registration.
Editor: Susan
Date: 18/09/2010