The UAE Embassy celebrated the festival this year with the theme "Meeting friends with Art: a glimpse of the UAE and Chinese Mid-autumn Festival"

BEIJING - The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Dr. Ali Al Dhaheri today welcomed guests to a celebration to mark the mid-autumn festival. 

Traditionally, at the time of the Mid-autumn festival, the moon is believed to be the brightest and biggest in the whole year. The festival represents the unity of the people, as well as celebrating the annual harvest. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Board partnered with the UAE Embassy to hold the event this year, in another sign of the city’s growing prominence as a major touristic and cultural hub in the UAE for Chinese visitors. 

This year, the UAE Embassy collaborated with the Chinese cultural organisation Rong Bao Zhai, to celebrate artistic and cultural connections between the UAE and China. The event, held at the Rong Bao Zhai premises in Beijing, showcased some of the best Emirati and Chinese contemporary art, with an exhibition of photography, celebrating the best that the two countries have to offer. The focus of the exhibition was on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in celebration of Year of Zayed 2018.

After the opening remarks by the UAE Ambassador, guests were able to tour the exhibition, as well as view a video presentation, followed by a Chinese tea and mooncakes gathering, power point presentation about UAE and a demonstration of traditional Chinese painting. 

The UAE Embassy wanted to showcase the rich artistic traditions of both cultures, and to demonstrate the deep and meaningful partnership which the Emirati and Chinese people continue to enjoy. 

In his speech to welcome guests to the event, the UAE Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China said "There are many legends about the mid-autumn festival and its origins. To modern Chinese today however, it is not just the ancient stories but also the tradition of holding reunions with family and friends. People always gather, and of course share mooncakes, which represent the harvest moon. For centuries, both of our peoples have used lunar calendars, another example of the deep bond between our cultures. It is in that spirit of community that we welcome our guests here today, and celebrate our diverse cultures through the universal community and kinship of art."

Originally named Song Zhu Zhai, (literally meaning "Pine and Bamboo Tree House") Rong Bong Zhai was founded in 1672 during the Qing Dynasty it was renamed Rong Bao Zhai, meaning "meeting friends with Art" in 1894. 

Over the past 60 years, Rong Bao Zhai has gradually transformed into a comprehensive cultural enterprise integrating calligraphy and painting, woodblock watermarking, binding and mounting, art collection, publishing, exhibition, education and training amongst several other aspects of artistic heritage.