The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival and the Chinese Lantern Festival, is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This usually occurs around late September or early October when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar, apart from the Chinese New Year and Winter Solstice (also known as Dongzhi Festival), and is a national holiday in some countries.

Traditionally, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Chinese family members and friends gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and enjoy moon cakes and pomelos together.

Overthrow of Mongolian rule

According to Chinese folklore, the Moon Festival commemorates an uprising in China against the Mongolian rulers of the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) in the 14th century. Group gatherings were forbidden by the Mongolian rulers and it was impossible to orchestrate a rebellion.

As the Mongolians did not partake in the eating of moon cakes, the rebel leaders came up with the idea of timing the rebellion to coincide with the Moon Festival. They distributed thousands of moon cakes to the Chinese residents in the city and cleverly inserted inside each moon cake a piece of paper with the message: “Kill the Mongolians on the 15th day of the 8th month.”

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the Mongolian government. Following the overthrow of the Mongolian government was the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). As a result of the successful rebellion, the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated with moon cakes on a national level.

Mid-Autumn Festival in London

Gerrard Street was the main focal point of the Moon Festival in London and Chinatown was lit up by thousands of orange paper lanterns to mark the occasion. Thousands of local Chinese and visitors from all over the world were there to participate in the anxiously awaited annual event. Many children were wearing the traditional bright coloured Chinese costumes and they look pretty in them.

This event was organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association and was held on Sunday, 11th October, a week later than usual, to coincide with the London Restaurant Festival (8th – 13th October 2009).

An outdoor stage was setup on Macclesfield Street, facing Gerrard Street. The opening ceremony started at 1.00pm with the ever-popular lion dance.

The afternoon’s performances were a mixture of traditional and modern entertainment including a lion dance, martial arts, Chinese traditional music, hip-hop dance and Hong Kong Canto-Pop.

Gifts were distributed to those who participated in quizzes or were brave enough to go on stage to give a performance. There were also food tasting, candy and noodle-making classes and even a Chopsticks Challenge.

28 Chinatown restaurants participated in the London Restaurant Festival and offered mouth-watering special menus of Oriental cuisines at special prices.

Elsewhere Chinese community stores were set up to sell Chinese products and those selling paper lanterns and fans seemed to have done very well on the day.

And so did the lion who danced from one shop to another offering good fortune to the Chinese business community.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in London was clearly enjoyed by everyone. There was so much fun and laughter and even the drizzle near the end did not dampen the spirits of those who participated in this year’s event.

Booking airline tickets has become an art form. It takes a lot of sleuthing and a bit of finesse to get the seat you want, the price you need and the dates you prefer. There are times where you can find good deals through online airline ticket purchase especially you are buying from low cost or budget airlines. Unless you apply airline ticket buying tricks, you cannot come across cheap airline tickets. The invention of the Web portals plays an important role in promoting cheap airline tickets.

Internet gives you easy access to information, so that you can become overloaded. There are tricks while access web portals, do not book at the first deal you see. There are travel sites which claim to be the lowest fare, but you never know until you look around, and surfing the Internet for the best price may take some time, and time is money. No wonder the Internet has become the most significant revolution in the tourism industry with the advent of commercial air traffic. Travelers now can apply the trick of using web portals to plan their trip, compare prices, research directions, read countless first-hand reviews, and even the price of air tickets.

There are many major portals that you may be familiar with this you can go and get quotes flight. It has been seen that you can get cheap flights , if you book you airline tickets late night and early morning hours. Apply another cheap airline tickets buying tricks while booking during off peak hours. You would also like to take advantage of the search for a flight early in the morning or late at night, as there are people looking for smaller and prices lower in many cases. There can be some great airline deals to be found during off peak hours. Date and time of purchase can have a significant impact on ticket prices. Generally, travelers looking for tickets in the middle of the day, and prices land up in paying higher airfare in compare to those who booked their airline tickets in late night and early morning hours. A little flexibility can save a lot of money. This is true with regard to travel dates and airports.

Follow the trick to book your cheap airfare during weekdays. Weekdays may cost you much cheaper instead of weekends. It will cost you cheap if you’re willing to fly on Saturday and return on Monday, than if you need to leave on Friday and return on Sunday. Program for frequent flyer can be a great way to save money. Most airlines provide only a small fraction of their available seats for travelers redeeming miles, and they are generally available for booking 330 days prior to departure. Buy in advance as much as possible. Prices can skyrocket unexpectedly, even months before you leave, therefore advance booking increase the chance of getting cheap Airline tickets.

Symonds Brawn provides airline tickets to popular U.S.A and International Destinations around the world. You can search your cheap flights London online and get detailed information about cheap flights to Asia and plan your trip ahead. All you need pack your bags to explore best regions which you have not seen.

Hidden at the foot of the majestic mountain Montjuic and nestling at the Mediterranean coastline, Barcelona is a marvelous city in Spain that will not leave you indifferent. The natural beauties of the beaches together with the compelling atmosphere of the original Spanish culture are just a small part of the magic of the city. It is the capital of Catalonia and still keeps the authentic Catalan folklore, language and temper.

Barcelona is a modern and dynamic city and features a wide diversity of attractions and highlights that guarantee the enjoyable time of its guests. It attracts millions of tourists during the whole year, who are captivated by the enchanting coastline and marvelous weather, the amazing and unique architecture of Barcelona and the wonderful people who will make you feel welcome and great. It is not only an outstanding tourist destination, but also a terrific place for living, studying and working.

The city has an impressive palette of options for an accommodation that will meet your expectations no matter if you come here for a delightful holiday, a business trip or a family vacation. If you are looking for a full comfort and coziness during your stay, it is advisable to rent an apartment in Barcelona and to make the best of your vacation. It is a wonderful opportunity for lodging especially for traveling with children or for longer holidays, when you will have intimacy and independence from tourist groups.

All apartments Barcelona are located only minutes away from the most interesting places in the city. For those who are sea lovers, there are fascinating apartments near the beach from where you can easily take an advantage of the features on the coastline. The collection of different apartments like studios, central Barcelona apartments, luxury apartments, apartments with terraces and many more, will fit your budget.

There are also discounts that can save you even more cash. Apartments assure 24 hours support in case you have any trouble and will provide you with all the needed information about the city. Barcelona is blessed with an exceptional network of restaurants, clubs, tapas bars etc where you can sample some of the delicious local meals on the background of the incredible Mediterranean. If you prefer a homemade dish, you can prepare it by yourself in the fully equipped kitchens in every apartment. Some of the most unforgettable landmarks that are a must see in Barcelona include the Gothic Quarter, the area of Las Ramblas, the breathtaking La Sagrada Familia, the Eixample quarter and many more.

The contrasting beauties of this country give you a perspective which allows you to look at the hidden glory of even a simple stuff in the country. The moment you land in any part of the country, you come across contrasting characteristics that include desert landscapes on one hand and snow capped volcanoes on the other. You find and a unique combination of time-warped colonial towns and glitzy resorts. Ancient ruins match the industrialized cities in terms of eternal glory. A good collection of flora and faun across the country compensate for the loneliness of beaches. Where can you get such variegated colors of attractions? And cheap Mexico hotels are one of the greatest agents that further add to the flavor of these attractions in the country.

What you look for in a standard hotel, you will get everything in the cheap hotels in Mexico. Low prices of the hotels do not mean that they do not compromise on the quality of amenities. Tourists in the country who is concerned about his or her budget have the magnificent options of staying at these cheap hotels. Location, service and hospitalities are the fabulous adornments of Mexico cheap hotels.

Various Websites provide an exhaustive list of the most comprehensive selection of luxurious boutique hotels. These world’s best luxury hotels can offer you an excellent choice of distinctive properties across the world. Whether you are looking for a beach hotel in Bali or an interior jungle of Africa, the best place to locate the world’s best hotels is the online directories provided by various tour operators. Be it an urban retreat in New York, or a remote rural area to do your research, the tour operators provide you with the perfect hotel anywhere.

With luxury travel and luxury hotels enjoying an unprecedented boom, for business or pleasure, the world best hotels have never been more competitive. The competition is not just to secure a big share of the market, but also to strive to offer the ultimate in every category, that is, from 24-hour room service to Wi-Fi connectivity. Worlds Best Hotels list prepared by various tour operators for their clients demands a lot of effort for research, good communication and business skills, a sense of the people’s choices and above all a zeal to conquer the heart of the clients. If you get the tour operator who can provide you with the best deals on the best luxury hotels, best hotels, or best resorts at reasonable rates, you will feel to be the luckiest holiday person.

The Worlds Best luxury hotels provide their details and booking information online. You do not need to hire a professional to do the bookings for you. The best resorts and the world’s best hotels are the best because they are away from you just virtually. Use that latest online technology to get the instant reservations and booking and get flying! Your dream destinations are waiting for you.

The Worlds Best Luxury hotels provide you with the luxury and the best comforts. Going on a holiday to one of these places drags you away from the everyday tensions of the work life and rejuvenate you to return home relaxed. When you come back from a holiday at a dream destination, you are a new person altogether!

Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has travelled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of world’s best hotels, worlds best luxury hotels and Europe luxury hotels.