2025 “Mid-Autumn Day in Poetry” Celebration
held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York
New York, October 13, 2025 – The 2025 “Mid-Autumn Day in Poetry” Celebration was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on October 13. The event was organized by the China National Tourist Office New York and co-organized by the Sino-American Culture and Arts Foundation.
Over 200 representatives attended the event, including senior United Nations officials such as the Assistant Secretary-General, representatives from the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (Central Planning and Coordination Division) of the UN Secretariat, the UNESCO New York Liaisons Office, and the Department of Global Communications. Also in attendance were New York State and New York City legislators; representatives from the Sino-American Friendship Association and the China General Chamber of Commerce in the USA; as well as organizers, co-organizers, and supporting institutions, including Bank of China USA and China Southern Airlines New York Office. The event was further attended by stakeholders from the business and tourism sectors, media organizations, airlines, hotels, and various representatives from across the United States.
Peter Dawkins, Chief of Digital Communication at DGC at the UN, noted that this event reminds us that even thousands of miles apart, people can still share the same bright moon and gather together under the same sky, poetry and art have the power to transcend language and connect hearts, which precisely embodies the spirit of peace and understanding championed by the United Nations.
Ms. Li Li, President of the Sino-American Culture and Arts Foundation, introduced Huangshan’s natural and cultural heritage sites, the Dazu Rock Carvings, Wuliangye, Bank of China, and China Southern Airlines, among other Chinese enterprises, during her opening remarks at the ceremony.
Throughout the evening, the LED screens at the venue continuously displayed short videos showcasing Chinese natural and cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage.
Mr. Yunfei Ma, director of the China National Tourist Office New York, stated in his speech that this event, through poetry and music, shared the warmth of Chinese culture and conveyed the aspiration of people around the world for peace and friendship. “Poetry and the moonlight have built a bridge of friendship,” he said, “and cultural exchanges make the world a better place.”
The event opened with "Thoughts on a Silent Night," recited bilingually in Chinese and English by New York City Council Member Christopher Marte.
The Chinese and American artists respectively presented classic Chinese poems such as "Looking at the Moon and Longing for One Far Away," "The Moon over the River on a Spring Night," and "Prelude to Water Melody".
Mr. Kirk Larsen, an American poet, wrote and recited a modern poem “Nearing Mid-Autumn Harvest”
Chinese culture and tourism display at the event site
Images of cultural tourism attractions such as Mount Huangshan and the Dazu Rock Carvings were displayed, and small gifts featuring Mount Huangshan, the Dazu Rock Carvings, and other cultural creative items were given as souvenirs at the event.
The event’s reception was sponsored by Wuliangye and included a dedicated tasting experience for guests to sample its signature spirits.
Representatives of the organizing and co-organizing institutions, together with performers and selected distinguished guests, took a group photo and showcased the exquisite gifts from Huangshan and Dazu presented by the organizing and co-organizing bodies.