Chinese Malaysian girl: I Dream to gather with my brother in Kunming

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival, was celebrated last Saturday on September 10.

As a traditional Chinese Festival which primarily highlights the importance of family reunion, it has always been considered an unmissable event by Chinese people and descendants around the globe. And in Malaysia, for example, there is no exception.

Malaysian Chinese Hor Jia Ying

“My family and I walked to a shopping plaza near home. We were surprised by the incredible festive atmosphere, because lanterns and moon cakes of all kinds could be seen everywhere,” said Hor Jia Ying on September 7, before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hor Jia Ying is a young Malaysian Chinese girl who lives in Johor Bahru, the capital of the state of Johor. Sitting next to Singapore, Johor Bahru has long been a fast-growing city. Its Chinese community is one of the largest across Malaysia. According to Jia Ying, as the local economic growth continues to speed up, an increasing number of people from China have decided to settle down in Johor Bahru over recent years.

“The Mid-Autumn Festival has always left me with warm memories as I grow up,” she smiled. Every year when this day that symbolizes family gathering comes, Jia Ying would hang up paper lanterns, eat moon cakes and appreciate the moon in the yard with her parents, brothers and sisters. “It’s definitely the most enjoyable moment in a year.”

Hor Jia Ying (right) with her younger sister (left)

Not only that, this festival – same as other traditional Chinese festive days such as the Spring Festival and Dragon Boat Festival – has literally been regarded as a ritual by overseas Chinese to celebrate their shared identity and cultural heritage.

“We sometimes go to temple fairs in the city to watch lion dances, float parades and martial arts performances on festivals,” Jia Ying recalled with excitement. During this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, she went out with her family. A Thai dinner was enjoyed by everyone, and moon cakes of various colors and flavors were brought home. "This is exactly how a family reunion should look like."

Hor Jia Ying's family get together for the Mid-Autumn Festival

 Regarding her wish to the future, Jia Ying said with no hesitation that she would love to visit Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province, one day. Jia Ying hasn’t had a chance to travel to China yet, but his elder brother has been working and living in Kunming – which is hailed as “China's Spring City” – for years with his Kunming-born wife.

“I can’t wait to reunite with them there.”  

Writing and trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong (Yunnan Daily); photographs providing by the interviewee