by Xinhua Writers Tan Jingjing, Julia Pierrepont III

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Various cultural events were staged at South Coast Plaza in Southern California on Thursday to celebrate the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hundreds of people across Southern California gathered to watch traditional Chinese performances and colorful lanterns, drink Chinese tea, and experience the Chinese culture.

The festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, is one of the most important festivals to Chinese people, which features family reunions, watching the full moon while eating mooncakes together.

For many Americans, the festival offers an opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture, and share blessings with people from different countries and cultures.

"It is my second time to join the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. I really like it. The Chinese performances planned out very well, and they are so interesting and impressive," Hannah Young, a student from Chino Hills High School in Southern California, told Xinhua.

She said she was mostly fascinated by "face changing" performances of the Chinese artist during the show, which revealed the charm of the Chinese culture.

Young and her friend both are dancers at their school and they told Xinhua they had some exchanges with Chinese dancers, and hope to see more contacts and exchanges with them in the future.

Addressing the celebration, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping said the Mid-Autumn Festival embodies the traditional values of Chinese philosophy for the harmony of humanity, and it represents the aspiration and pursuit of Chinese people for peace, prosperity and unity.

"Though the current China-U.S. relationship is going through some difficulties, we believe our two countries still have lots of common interests and our two people still share a deep rooted friendship and common desire for a good relationship," he said.

"Under the current situation, it makes the cultural exchanges of this kind all the more important to play its role in strengthening the people-to-people connection and deepening mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples," Zhang said.

Vice Chairwoman of Orange County Board of Supervisors Michelle Steel said the Mid-Autumn Festival is also celebrated in other Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

"It is an occasion to share love and support to each other," Steel said.

Besides performances, various Chinese cultural events held at South Coast Plaza such as clay sculptures, paper cutting and dough figurines, also attracted many Americans among others.

Brian Chuan, senior director of international and domestic markets at South Coast Plaza, told Xinhua that this is the third year that the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations were hosted at the Plaza.

There are many Chinese and other Asians living in Orange County, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is a very important one for them, Chuan said.

The celebration not only showcases traditional Chinese culture to Americans, but also serves a great platform for exchanges among different cultures, he added.