Mid-Autumn lantern fair lights up Kunshan

Cross-Strait (Kunshan) Mid-Autumn Lantern Fair 2015, an event themed on "lanterns light up both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan", was unveiled in grand style on the Huiju Temple Square in the KETD on the evening of Sept. 23 and lasted until today. The Mid-Autumn lantern fair of this year was hosted by China Friendship Association of Cultural Circles and China Cross-Strait Exchange Association, and co-organized by Kunshan Yangcheng Lake Culture Business Tourism Group.

This year's lantern fair spread out in three zones, namely, Huiju Temple Square Main Lantern Zone, Yangshu Road Street Lantern Zone and Atmosphere Lantern Zone. Among others, four groups of Kunshan theme lanterns, i.e. Colorful Kunshan, Peony Pavilion, Land of Fish and Rice and The Spring Comes in Full Form, four groups of Taiwan theme lanterns, i.e. Mazu's Cruise, Erjie Wanggong Jumping across Fire, Tongyuan Bridge and Begging Tortoise for Peace, and three lantern corridors, i.e. Culture in Kunshan, Fish Leaping Forward and Happy Lantern Corridor, were staged at the main lantern zone.

Yangshu Road Street Lantern Zone put on display 22 groups of medium-sized lanterns to the south of the middle section of Yangshu Road (from Wusongjiang Road to Dongtinghu Road) on such themes as China's Virtues, Taiwan's Charm, Joyful Childhood, Happy Life and Beauty of Art. By illuminating and decorating the roadside trees along Yangshu Road, the Atmosphere Lantern Zone boasted various atmosphere lantern groups like Evening Breeze Blowing Willows, Hundred Birds Back to Nest, Water of Life, etc.

In addition, there was a "Cross-Strait Common Stage" in the west of the Huiju Temple Square. The stage exhibited the intangible culture, folk culture and distinctive culture in Kunshan and Taiwan in an effort to build a bridge of cultural communication and integration and highlight the warm theme of friendship, union and harmony across the Strait.

For the convenience of visitors, the organizer will arrange for free buses to run between Kunshan Science & Culture Expo Center and the lantern fair venue, as well as shuttle buses to ferry visitors free of charge between Kunshan Int'l Convention & Exhibition Center and the entrance to the lantern fair.

With more than 4,500 Taiwan companies having settled in Kunshan, the city is now the focal area of Taiwan investment in Chinese mainland, where the economy and culture of Chinese mainland and Taiwan blend with and brighten up each other.