Young people from over 20 countries recently gathered at a traditional pastry mold museum in Beijing's Chaoyang District to immerse themselves in the art of mooncake-making and Mid-Autumn Festival traditions. The event, organized by the district's publicity and culture center, blended hands-on learning with cultural storytelling to bridge global perspectives with Chinese heritage.
Participants traced the 2,000-year evolution of pastry molds, examining intricate designs from the Han and Tang dynasties that symbolize prosperity and unity. Museum guides highlighted how these artifacts reflect China's agricultural history and familial values central to the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Over 30 attendees, including international students residing in China, engaged in workshops demonstrating traditional baking techniques. Many expressed fascination with how mooncake patterns—from floral motifs to lunar imagery—encode cultural narratives. "It's like decoding ancient emojis," remarked one participant from Indonesia during the folk culture seminar.
The initiative underscores Beijing's efforts to promote cultural exchange through tangible heritage experiences. As mooncakes gain global popularity, events like this offer fresh insights into the philosophies shaping one of Asia's most cherished festivals.
