Another Full Moon, Another Reunion

On 22^nd September, the foreign guests in ASIPP joined the annual Mid-autumn trip. By cycling in Lakeside Wetland Forest Park, picking grapes in Dawei vineyard and tasting moon-cake, they experienced the Chinese traditional way of celebrating Mid-autumn Festival.

However, the wonderful reunion was more than that. Foreign guests from 8 different countries shared the festivals and traditions of their own culture, and Professor Martin Peng from Oak Ridge National Laboratory told the beautiful story behind Chinese Mid-autumn Festival and moon cake. 

This year’s Mid-autumn Festival falls on 27^th September. Wherever you will be, our collaborators home and abroad shall receive ourbest wishes from ASIPP. Just as the Chinese poem: “Though far apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon”.  

Background on Mid-autumn Festival:

It’s said that there’s a beautiful lady called Changer living in the cold palace in the moon. She’s there because she took her husband’s pill of immortality by mistake and flew away from earth. Her husband is such a hero who shot down nine of the ten suns in the sky and saved the human, but sadly they’ve been apart from each other since Changer flew to the moon. On 15^th day of 8th Chinese lunar month, when the moon is fullest, Chinese people celebrate the Mid-autumn festival by getting together with the whole family. Every time when seeing the fullest moon on this day, people think of Changer. (XI Yingkun reports) 

Cycling in Lakeside Wetland Forest Park 

Picking Grapes in Dawei Vineyard 

Annual Reunion