Sourced from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; Photo Credit: William Luk
The shifting period from summer into more tranquil autumn is a gorgeous time in Vancouver, with the gradually changing leaves and weather.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by many East Asian cultures through coming together in thanks and harmony. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, located in Vancouver’s Chinatown, is holding a very special evening in honour of this festival.
On September 13, 2019, which is the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall Street) will be marking the full moon with ceremony, poetry, and art.
From 5pm to 9pm, everyone is invited to take part in programming that is suited for all ages and interests (admission by suggested donation of $5).
The celebration begins with a Tea Poetry Contest (5pm to 9pm) that lasts the whole evening. Visitors will be encouraged to write their own poetry while sipping contemplative tea. Their creative work will then be entered in a contest, with the prize being a limited edition Gongfu Tea Set designed by Lam Wong, the Artist in Residence at the Garden. Wong will be one of the judges, as well as Frank Abbott and Yilin Wang.
Also starting at 5pm will be a Guzheng Performance and Interactive Session during which Joyce Tan will perform on the Chinese zither, as well as teach the audience about this unique instrument. The session will occur every hour (5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm).
Sourced from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; Photo Credit: William Luk
As lanterns carry considerable symbolic weight within the festival, Lantern Making will figure in the Garden’s celebration. Attendees will be able to buy and make a lantern from 5pm to 9pm.
Gongfu Tea Tasting will take place every 20 minutes, starting at 5:10pm. The theme of tea is interwoven in many of the activities for the night due to its extensive and rich tradition within Chinese culture. It is steeped in meditation, ritual, and communal resonance. The Garden’s sessions will allow guests to drink a cup of tea and receive tea education. They can bring their own cups or buy ones offered by the Garden.
Sourced from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; Photo Credit: William Luk
Even though Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration with a long history, it’s also taking place in 2019! Hanfu and Lantern Photo Stations (5pm to 9pm) will make for the ideal IG photo-taking opportunity, with traditional Han outfits. Guests can pose with the Hanfu Club or Chang’e, the wandering goddess of the moon.
The Garden hosts art exhibitions that change periodically. Its current one, Journeying through Chinatowns, a photography exhibit on Chinatowns in Vancouver, Richmond, and New Westminster, will be ending September 1, 2019. Replacing it will be Cha Ji, which features the work of five artists, along with Lam Wong. Tea & Art (5:30pm to 6:30pm) will launch this exhibition, which will run for six months.
Finally, in honour of the full moon, Mooncake Demos will be occurring from 7pm to 7:45pm and 8pm to 8:45pm.
It’s sure to be a magical evening of moonlight, tea and cake, and artistic revelry.
