Empire State Building shines for Mid-Autumn Festival

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New York City's landmark Empire State Building turned red and gold at sunset on Wednesday to celebrate China's traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on October 4 this year.

The Empire State Building's "tower lights will shine in red and gold, with colorful moons and lanterns in the mast to celebrate this joyous holiday," said Anthony Malkin, CEO and chairman of Empire State Realty Trust before the ceremony.

Lighting scheme was designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman.

Before flipping the switch for the lighting, Zhang Qiyue, China's consul general in New York, said the China-US relationship has maintained a generally positive momentum since the beginning of this year.

Chinese Consul General in New York Zhang Qiyue (L) and Anthony Malkin, CEO and chairman of Empire State Realty Trust at the Empire State Building in New York City/‍Xinhua photo

"Since the start of this year, the two sides have set up four dialogue systems. One of them is social, cultural, and people-to-people dialogue," said Zhang.

"I think this lighting ceremony, or event like this, are part of the social and cultural dialogue," the Chinese diplomat added.

For years, this New York landmark has been celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year in lights. Zhang said this year's Mid-Autumn Festival event marks a new initiative.

"We hope this tradition can be kept," she said.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the key traditional festivals in China which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is the time when the moon is said to be at its brightest and fullest.

On Western calendar, the day usually occurs sometime between the third week of September and the second week of October.

This day is also considered a harvest festival, and a time for relaxation and reunion with the family.

Since 1976, the Empire State Building's tower lights have maintained the tradition of changing color to recognize various occasions and organizations throughout the year.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency