Donning traditional hanfu attire, expats in Shanghai's Jiading district learn to make mooncakes in celebration of the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
Over 50 expats in Shanghai's Jiading district and their families recently gathered at Tongji University's Jiading campus to immerse themselves in the rich traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which will be celebrated on Oct 6 this year.
The event, organized by Jiading district's talent work bureau, aimed to foster a real sense of community and cultural appreciation among international residents.
The festivities commenced with a mesmerizing Peking Opera performance — captivating the audience with its intricate costumes and melodious tunes. Enthralled by this quintessential Chinese art form, many attendees eagerly recorded the performance with their smart phones to capture the moment.
During a hands-on mooncake-making session, participants crafted snow skin mooncakes under the guidance of expert bakers. Bai Ziyi, a first-time mooncake maker, proudly displayed her rabbit-stamped creation, exclaiming: "This is my first time making mooncakes, and it's so much fun!"
They also enjoyed crafting colorful lanterns and fish-shaped fridge magnets. A Swiss attendee shared his excitement, saying: "I collect fridge magnets from many countries. This is so much fun! I'll put this Jiading souvenir on my fridge".
Long queues formed at on-site booths offering activities such as pearl fan making, tea tasting and osmanthus flower sachet sewing. Ming Xin, a project director at Brose China, remarked: "It's like stepping into a living museum. There's so much to learn!"