Scientifically speaking, the moon is just one object in the solar system. But Chinese culture has given the moon a different meaning. It is the Chang 'e fairy's Guanghan Palace, is the wanderer's yearning for his hometown, is people's pursuit of beauty, is the love world lingering acacia. In particular, August 15, the Mid-Autumn Festival, people are more to such as the plate full moon, lovesickness, looking forward to reunion. Although today's advanced technology and convenient transportation, no longer like the ancients can only mourn for the moon, but the custom of appreciating the moon has been deeply engraved in our hearts.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, we've listed 5 places to enjoy the moon in China. At this time, although we are strangers, maybe we're all over the world, but we can enjoy the moon together, isn't it very interesting?
1. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring in Dunhuang
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring in Dunhuang scenic spot is located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang city, Gansu Province. Through the ages, it is famous for the wonderful landscape of "mountain springs coexist, sand and water coexist". It is known as "one of the unique sceneries beyond the Great Wall". In 1994, it was designated as a national key scenic spot. Looking at the moon in the desert, free of light pollution and tall buildings. Climbing up the dunes, you will feel like you see a huge moon, with the sky in the background of the stars.
2. Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin
As the emblem of Guilin's landscape city, elephant Trunk Mountain has been talked about with relish for its unique landscape of "elephant mountain, water and moon" since ancient times. In view of elephant Trunk Mountain's standing out, experts believe that: first, elephant trunk Mountain has high popularity and reputation. Second, there is a transparent stone cave between the trunk and the body of the elephant stretching into the Li River from elephant trunk Hill.
3. Hongcun in Huangshan
Located at the southwest foot of Huangshan Mountain, Hongcun village is known as the "village in painting". More than 140 houses of the Ming and Qing dynasties are well preserved. Moonlight reflected in the south lake moon in the marsh, pouring on the white wall black tile, sprinkle on the fruits drying, combined into a charming picture. The moon rises from dongshan, as big as a disk, sprinkled on the South lake of Hongcun, standing in the painting bridge, lotus fragrance full pond, in the pure moonlight, feel the beautiful moonlight of Hongcun.
4. West Lake in Hangzhou
We all know the beauty of the West Lake. Among the ten famous scenes of the West Lake, there are two related to the moon: Pinghu Qiuyue (平湖秋月) and Santan Yingyue （三潭映月）.
Sitting on the platform to look up at the sky moon wheel in the sky, overlooking the lake moon reflection. The three ponds in the West Lake, with moonlight, lights and lake light interwoven, and the shadow of the moon, the shadow of the pagoda and the shadow of the clouds set off each other are also unforgettable.
5. Lugou Bridge in Beijing
The famous Lugou Bridge is located southwest of Guang 'anmen in Beijing, across the Yongding River. The Lugou Bridge is 266 meters long and eight meters wide. There are 501 stone lions, both large and small, on the bridge. It is the oldest and longest 11-hole bridge in North China.
Lu Gou Xiao Yue (卢沟晓月) is one of the eight views of Beijing in ancient times. The four-character monument of Lu Gou Xiao Yue written by Qianlong stands on the bridge. The beauty of lugou Bridge, especially in the moon, distant mountains, nearby the water, the interest of the beautiful bridge, set off each other, very charming.
When Did People Begin to Enjoy The Moon?
At present, the view of historians is that the formation of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Tang and Song Dynasties, is a general festival; The peak period of the Mid-Autumn Festival was completed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and its status in the festival folklore was significantly increased, becoming a popular day of big festival.
Some scholars believe that the Mid-Autumn Festival moon tradition, in fact, is the ancient Pre-Qin period "Xi yue (夕月)" the continuation of the tradition. The so-called Xi Yue, in fact, is the ancient king organization of the ceremony. According to the Guoyu, the ancient Kings who had acquired the world would Revere heaven and the sun and the moon. In fact, this kind of sacrifice was in the form of offering sacrifices to heaven and the sun and moon to ask the people to honor the king himself.
Into the Tang Dynasty, the full moon began to officially merge with the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is also the first time in history that the Mid-Autumn Festival and the moon are linked together. In the middle and late Tang Dynasty, playing under the moon on the 15th night of August became a popular entertainment for scholars.
In addition to natural reasons, there are historical reasons why people choose to enjoy the moon before and after the Mid-Autumn Festival in the year. In early times, moon sacrifice was carried out in autumn, when people's attention was focused on the moon, and they could fully appreciate the beauty of the moon without noticing it. At that time, the upper class began to understand the moon more rationally, not simply worship, and gradually regarded the full moon as a beautiful natural scene to appreciate. The so-called "beautiful moment" mentality, is such. We can clearly see the traces of ancient myths from the past dynasties moon poetry, osmanthus, white rabbit, chang 'e is a common image, also proved that the ancient moon myth on the strong influence of the custom.
Further reading:
How to Make a Chinese Mooncake
Mid-Autumn Festival
