When the moon fills the East: A handbook to China's Mid-Autumn Festival
Read this handbook and you will know enough for the special night: how to eat a mooncake, how to watch the moon, and where those names in orbit came from.
The Mid-Autumn Festival's arrival on Friday saw over 1,000 visitors flock to the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung, marking the first major holiday test of Hong Kong's new real-name reservation system. Clear skies and warm weather welcomed mainland Chinese tourists, many of whom had discovered the scenic spot through social media and traveled specifically for day trips or short breaks.
Visitors expressed admiration for the area's beauty, with one tourist praising the scenery and another highlighting the pleasant breeze despite the heat. The reservation system, introduced on September 5, enables a maximum of 2,000 people per day in selected weekend and holiday periods, including the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day "golden week." Four two-hour slots accommodate 500 visitors each, with bookings made free of charge through the Klook travel platform using real names and identity document details.
The scheme aimed to manage increasing visitor numbers and minimize environmental impact, following previous holidays where East Dam and Po Pin Chau experienced overcrowding. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu emphasized the government's intention to evaluate the trial and develop a long-term strategy for country park management.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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