Yesterday (the 4th) was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although Guangzhou experienced rain and overcast skies, it did not dampen the festive spirit of the public. Restaurants, shopping malls, and parks all saw large crowds. Not only was the Mid-Autumn lantern fair at Yuntai Garden bustling with visitors, but many citizens also chose to hike up high to enjoy the moon. Both the Canton Tower and the Moxing Ridge of Baiyun Mountain became popular destinations for celebrating the festival.
According to reports, the number of visitors to the Canton Tower yesterday reached 14,690. As of 10 p.m. last night, the number of people who hiked Baiyun Mountain to admire the moon hit 81,687, while 25,135 visited Yuntai Garden to enjoy the lantern displays.
The Mid-Autumn reunion dinner is the most cherished part of the holiday for locals. Yesterday, many restaurants had their Mid-Autumn Eve dinner reservations fully booked in advance, with some well-known establishments having most of their tables reserved a week ahead. A waiter at one restaurant noted that only a few individual seats were available on the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and those wishing to queue would need to arrive in the lobby by 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, shopping malls in Guangzhou also enjoyed a situation where both foot traffic and revenue surged. Among them, Guangzhou Friendship Store achieved impressive sales of nearly 15 million RMB, marking a 2% year-on-year increase. Department stores such as Grandview Mall, Modern Mall, and New Light Mall also reported growth in revenue.
According to reports, the daytime visitor numbers at city-run parks yesterday were more than 50% higher than on a regular weekend. Among them, Yuntai Garden and Liuhua Lake Park were the two most popular attractions. The Baiyun Mountain scenic area reported, “The crowds were mainly concentrated in the evening, with a peak in mountain visitors after 8 p.m. for moon viewing. At around 7 p.m., the clouds began to disperse, revealing the bright moon hanging high in the sky, prompting many hikers to take out their cameras for photos.”
The 17 sets of colorful themed lanterns at Yuntai Garden were especially popular with children. Liuhua Lake Park also set up festive light displays at the main entrance and Pulin Square to create a celebratory atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Maofeng Mountain Scenic Area and Zhujiang Park added special green landscaping and floral arrangements, allowing visitors to enjoy both flowers and the moon.