Kunshan City in eastern China has officially kicked off its spectacular Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. On Friday, the city illuminated its large-scale lantern displays, marking the start of the highly anticipated 2024 Mid-Autumn Lantern Fair. The event aims to foster cultural and personal exchanges between residents on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and will run until late October.
Celebrating Tradition and Innovation
The fair opened to the public on September 14, with displays held across two key locations, Huiju Square and Zhouzhuang Town. Kunshan is known for its close ties with Taiwan, having been a favoured destination for investment and business ventures by Taiwanese compatriots for years. This year’s lantern fair reflects those connections and seeks to strengthen them further.
The lantern displays in Huiju Square are especially eye-catching, featuring dragon-themed elements intended to inspire visitors to explore Kunshan’s cultural heritage. The installations combine traditional lantern craftsmanship with modern technology, utilising digital lighting and augmented reality to create an interactive and visually stunning experience for attendees.
Meanwhile, in Zhouzhuang Town, the festival takes on an even more innovative approach with the creation of a metaverse digital light forest. This display, along with creative lanterns, showcases local customs, cultural tourism icons, and Kunshan’s most famous landmarks. The mix of traditional elements and cutting-edge technology highlights the city’s unique ability to blend the old with the new, preserving its heritage while embracing modernity.
A Festival to Unite and Engage
The lantern fair is just one part of Kunshan’s broader strategy to deepen cultural exchanges between residents of China and Taiwan. In addition to the lantern displays, the fair will host a variety of activities designed to engage visitors and promote further cultural interaction. Highlights include art performances, immersive Hanfu clothing carnivals, and a range of other events aimed at boosting cultural communication across the Taiwan Strait.
The city of Kunshan has been proactive in ensuring these activities bring people together, helping to break down barriers and foster greater understanding. These events will continue throughout the festival, encouraging participation and dialogue among attendees.
Cross-Strait Youth Engagement
This year’s lantern fair follows the successful conclusion of the Fourth Cultural Month, which was held in Jiangsu Province to promote greater cultural understanding between young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Since July 23, over 50 cultural, sporting, and artistic events were organised in multiple cities across Jiangsu. These activities attracted more than 3,300 participants from Taiwan, with 2,500 of them being young people. This initiative helped foster new friendships and deeper mutual understanding among the youth, encouraging future cooperation and exchange.
Kunshan’s Commitment to Cross-Strait Collaboration
Kunshan continues to build on its long-standing relationship with Taiwan. In 2023, the city introduced a number of measures designed to make it easier for Taiwanese residents to start businesses and pursue careers in Kunshan.
On Friday, a new one-stop service centre was launched to provide comprehensive support for Taiwanese residents and businesses. This centre offers a range of services, including school enrolment, housing assistance, healthcare, and elderly care. Additionally, it provides efficient business services to help Taiwanese entrepreneurs thrive in the local economy. With these initiatives, Kunshan is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for Taiwanese people and enterprises.
The 2024 Mid-Autumn Lantern Fair is a reflection of Kunshan’s dedication to fostering cross-Strait cooperation. By promoting cultural and economic exchanges, the city celebrates its ties with Taiwan while showcasing its rich heritage and traditions during one of China’s most cherished festivals.
