2025 Cross-Strait (Kunshan) Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival Kicks Off with Spectacular Lighting Ceremony
Kunshan Lights Up for the 2025 Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival
KUNSHAN, China – September 30, 2025 – The vibrant city of Kunshan in Jiangsu Province kicked off the 2025 Cross-Strait (Kunshan) Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival with a dazzling lighting ceremony on September 29, attended by local officials and community representatives. This year’s festival, themed “Twin Blossoms, Shared Lights,” promises a month filled with cultural activities and public programs, running through the end of October.
The festival showcases cutting-edge light and visual technologies, celebrating the fruitful industrial collaboration and financial innovation between Kunshan and Taiwan. It aims to enhance cultural, tourism, and economic exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, fostering deeper connections among communities.
A Feast for the Senses
The festivities are centered around two main locations: Huiju Square and Zhouzhuang Ancient Town. At Huiju Square, visitors are treated to a spectacular display of drone shows and interactive robot performances inspired by Kunqu Opera. The performances feature traditional elements like floral hairpins and flowing water sleeves, merging age-old artistry with modern technology.
Meanwhile, Zhouzhuang Ancient Town offers a picturesque backdrop for themed lantern installations, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in the town’s rich historical charm and cultural heritage.
Community and Collaboration
Kunshan Huiju Square serves as a hub for public interaction, developed through a partnership between the CPC Kunshan Municipal Committee and Taiwanese firms. During the opening ceremony, city leaders unveiled an improvement plan for the area, promising enhancements to environmental amenities, entertainment spaces, and facilities that support cultural and industrial innovation.
Recent initiatives in Kunshan have included the “Cross-Strait Pastel Artists Invitational Exhibition” and the “Kunqu Opera Art Collection Exhibition.” The festival will also feature award-winning designs from the 6th Lantern Design Competition, alongside the 2025 Kunshan Taiwanese Business Community Mid-Autumn Fellowship, Cross-Strait Cultural and Arts Performances, and Cross-Strait Folk Culture Day.
A Hub of Taiwanese Investment
Kunshan stands as a leading center for Taiwanese investment on the mainland, hosting the largest concentration of Taiwanese companies. Approximately 100,000 Taiwanese residents and businesspeople call the city home. The Kunshan Pilot Zone for Deepening Cross-Strait Industrial Cooperation has made significant strides, with over 6,188 Taiwanese-funded projects approved, totaling more than $70.8 billion in investment as of August 2025.
As the lanterns illuminate the night sky, the 2025 Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival not only celebrates tradition but also symbolizes the enduring bonds between communities across the Strait, fostering a spirit of unity and collaboration.
