Hainan shares Chinese culture through cross-cultural Mid-Autumn Festival events

By CHEN BOWEN in Haikou | chinadaily.com.cn

Updated: 09:06 PM (GMT+8) Sept 25, 2026

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Hainan province hosted a series of cross-cultural Mid-Autumn Festival events, inviting foreign professionals and their families to gather for an immersive experience of traditional Chinese folk culture. The events aimed to build bridges of cultural exchange and emotional connection while showcasing Hainan's open, inclusive character and its warm appeal as a destination for international talent.

In Haikou, the "Coconut City International Salon" brought Chinese and foreign performers together for a community arts showcase under the theme "Our Festival: Mid-Autumn". Nearly 100 foreign friends and local citizens took part. The performance blended three elements: traditional Chinese culture, local Hainan customs, and exotic styles. Chinese and foreign artists shared the same stage as guests enjoyed the performances and talked about reunion, experiencing the cultural charm of traditional Chinese festivals in an immersive way.

Julio Cesar Jimenez Ortiz, a Cuban keyboardist, called the event a celebration where all cultures come together. "It's a great thing for Hainan. I'm so glad to be part of it, especially seeing all people from different backgrounds, cultures, and different music," he said. "It would be great if it repeats more often. I will tell them Haikou is a great place, like the place where I come from."

Liset Gonzalez, a teacher at Hainan Yingya St Peter's School, also from Cuba, sang a song titled The Rain Fell on Haikou, which she described as a tribute to the city's beauty. "It mentions Nandu River and the things to do around Haikou," she said. "I think it's a great opportunity to come out with this song and for everyone to enjoy."

Svajunas Urnikis, another teacher at Hainan Yingya St Peter's School, from Lithuania, said the rain in Haikou "is always happy rain". He added that the event was a great opportunity not only to get to know one another, but also to celebrate the beginning of Mid-Autumn Festival.

In Sanya, the Yazhou Tropical Science International Talent Station also held a celebration event that drew researchers and their families from more than 10 countries. Gathering between the mountains and the sea, participants immersed themselves in traditional Mid-Autumn customs, discussed new opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation, and deepened friendships in an atmosphere of reunion, strengthening momentum for Hainan's scientific innovation industry and talent exchange.

A series of Chinese-style cultural experiences followed, offering international and local talent an immersive feast of traditional culture. Under the guidance of professional instructors, participants practiced tai chi together, sensing the rhythm and wisdom of Eastern martial arts through slow, steady movements. Intangible cultural heritage lecturers explained the history of hanfu (traditional Chinese costume) and its etiquette culture, and participants toured the grounds in traditional attire, experiencing the elegance of Chinese dress and its millennia-old heritage.

A handmade mooncake session drew enthusiastic participation, with talent from home and abroad crafting traditional mooncakes by hand and, through practice, gaining insight into the cultural themes of reunion, harmony, and national unity that define Mid-Autumn Festival.