Zhong Qiu Jie

For the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie) we watched from the north peak of Hua Shan as the full moon rose above the Qinling Mountains. To celebrate the festival people gaze at the moon and eat 'moon cakes' (yueh bing). The custom supposedly started when the Chinese rebelled to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty by passing secret messages disguised as small pastries. We were all very tired from the long hike so it was great to relax, breath the clean mountain air, and stare at the moon.