The 2026 Mid-Autumn Gala for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, themed "Moonrise Over Mountains and Seas," was recorded in Shanwei, Guangdong, on September 21 and will air on GRT Satellite Channel on September 25, the Mid-Autumn Festival. Centered on the theme "One Moon, One Heart," the gala showcases Shanwei's distinctive coastal culture and folk traditions.
The gala features more than 10 representative items of Shanwei's intangible cultural heritage. In the traditional opera performance "A Great Show," three rare national-level opera genres—Zhengzi Opera (正字戏), Baizi Opera (白字戏) and Xiqin Opera (西秦戏)—take the stage together.
Song-and-dance performances also draw on traditional arts including Qiangu Dance (钱鼓舞), Jiazi Yingge (甲子英歌), Qilin Dance (麒麟舞) and Lufeng Shadow Puppetry (陆丰皮影戏). Shanwei is recognized as a "Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Arts" and is home to nine national-level intangible cultural heritage items.
The lineup includes young actor Zeng Shunxi, who hails from Shanwei and was recently named one of Guangdong's chief cultural tourism ambassadors, as well as singers and actors including Daniel Chan, Zhuang Xinyan and Cui Zhengrong. Evan Yo, a singer from Taiwan, and AI singer "Datouzhen Official" also joined the gala.
The gala also highlights Shanwei's growing appeal as a cultural and tourism destination. Since the opening of the Guangzhou-Shanwei high-speed railway in 2023, the city has become more closely connected with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while efforts to revitalize historic neighborhoods and restore the Pinqing Lake mangroves are giving the coastal city a fresh look.
Author | He Fengyu
Photos | Wang Xuying
