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Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival First Time Celebrated At New York City Hall
NEW YORK, NY, September 25, 2018: For the first time in its history, New York City Hall celebrated a favorite traditional Chinese festival – the Mid-Autumn Festival - with a taste of Beijing tradition from ancient time to modern.
Around 400 dignitaries and business leaders, including: New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Council members; the acting Consul General of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York, Zhao, Yumin; executive member of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, Li, Baochun; Council Member Peter Koo; Sino-American Friendship Association president Peter Zhang; world renowned pianist Lang Lang, city ambassadors of both New York and Beijing; as well as business executives and community leaders, attended the celebration, also known as the Full Moon Festival.
Guests take pictures with Peking Opera performers
Main guests interviewed by mainstream media in City Hall
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Gives Remarks
SAFA President Peter Zhang gifts the calligraphy work to the city council
Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development Director General Li Baochun gives remarks
Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development participated in the event. “I am very proud to see more Americans are interested in learning about the Chinese culture and traditions as Chinese in Beijing also celebrate the American holidays,” the director of Beijing World Tourism Cities Development Center, Li Baochun said. He invited everyone to experience the charm of the ancient imperial capital that has over 3,000 years of history. “The cultural implications of the Mid-Autumn festival, such as family reunions and harvest celebrations, are memorable and unforgettable each year.”
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson also noted that New York City is where diversity of cultures are at, people from all around the world came to chase their American dreams and inherit their traditions. Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important Asian Holidays and starting from this year, the City Council will celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival every year from now on, inviting New York City’s Asian Americans to come together sharing mooncakes and celebrating this special day.
Beijing and NYC’s ambassador, world renowned pianist Lang Lang accepts recognition from the New York City Council
Monacant artist Caroline Bergonzi shares on Beijing Culture and Tourism
American Chinese singer Yang Ling performs Hometown is Beijing
ASTA secretary Wayne Lee shares on Beijing culture and tourism
The New York City celebration featured Beijing-style performances, insights into how the holiday is celebrated locally and Beijing cuisine. Pianist Lang Lang also shared his experience living in both cities and the common understanding of Chinese and Americans of family values, the trust of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Chinese Festival is a harvest holiday, celebrated notably by Chinese nationals globally to honor the harvest season and family values, much like Thanksgiving in the U.S. Beijing has been a sister city of New York City since 1980 and this year marked the 38th anniversary of the sisterhood.
Sino-American Friendship Association President Peter Zhang clarified that the reason for introducing Beijing’s culture and tourism on Mid-Autumn Festival is that this is the festival accepted and loved by Asian Americans, and its core value of family getting together goes together with the classic American holiday – Thanksgiving. This is where Chinese culture can overcome the cultural gap and find a common point with America and the rest of the world.
The acting Consul General of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York, Zhao, Yumin gives closing remarks
SAFA President Peter Zhang gifts Councilman Peter Koo the mid-autumn festival calligraphy work
Mr. Li, Baochun communicates with New York City Mayor representative C. McLaughlin
Event scene
Event scene