NYC Empire State Building to shine for Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

NEW YORK - Tower lights of New York City's landmark Empire State Building will shine in red and gold at sunset Wednesday in honor of Chinese traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls Oct 4 this year.

Tonight, the Empire State Building's "tower light will shine in red and gold, with colorful moons and lanterns in the mast to celebrate this joyous holiday," said Anthony Malkin, CEO and Chairman of Empire State Realty Trust.

Lighting scheme is designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman.

Before flipping the switch for the lighting, Zhang Qiyue, consul general of China in New York, said China-US relationship has maintained a generally positive momentum since the beginning of this year.

"The two sides have since this year set up four dialogue mechanisms, one of them called social, cultural, and people-to-people dialogue," said Zhang.

"I think this lighting ceremony, or event like this are part of this social, cultural dialogue and events," the Chinese diplomat added.

For years, this New York landmark has been celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year in lights. Zhang said this year's Mid-Autumn Festival event marks a new initiative.

"We hope this tradition could be kept," she said.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of key traditional festivals in China which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is the time when the moon is said to be at its brightest and fullest.

In western calendar, the day usually occurs sometime between the third week of September and the second week of October.

This day is also considered a harvest festival, a time for relaxation and family reunion.

Since 1976, the Empire State Building's tower lights have maintained a tradition of changing color to recognize various occasions and organizations throughout the year.