The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, during a full moon. This year, the Moon Festival was celebrated on September 8.

Appreciating the full moon with family members is a must-do activity on Moon Festival nights. Here are some readers’ picks for the most romantic moon gazing venues in Suzhou.

Auspicious Light Pagoda (Photo/Suzhou Daily)

Downtown: Master-of-Nets Garden. The Pavilion of the Arriving Moon and Wind perches on the highest rockery in the Master-of-Nets Garden. It stands against a mirrored wall, with its front facing the water. It is built as something of a summer house to enjoy the cool breeze and watch the moon. At the Mid-Autumn Festival, people in the pavilion can see three moons: one in the sky, one in the pond, and another one reflected in the mirror. Eight to nine o’clock is the time to get the best view.

Wuzhong district: Xingchun Bridge

Moon-gazing on Moon Festival night at Shihu Lake has long been a symbol of Suzhou’s Moon Festival culture.

With the moon shedding light across nine arches of Xingchun Bridge, people can see a string of nine reflections of the bright moon on the lake’s surface. Many locals, as well as out-of-towners, swarm to Shihu Lake around the Moon Festival, waiting for the once-a-year miraculous view to unfold.

Jinji Lake (Photo/Suzhou Daily)

Suzhou Industrial Park: Jinji Lake

Many Chinese people think moon gazing by the water is romantic. The glorious lighting around Jinji Lake is definitely a plus.

Moon Harbor is the best place around Jinji Lake for moon gazing. Across the lake, numerous neon lights, the biggest Ferris Wheel in Asia, the Culture and Arts Center, and the lake center island add to the charm of the place. Downtown: Auspicious Light Pagoda The newly renovated Auspicious Light Pagoda is also a great location for moon gazing.

The Pagoda was originally part of the Buddhist Monastery of Universal Relief, built by Sun Quan, King of Wu in the Three Kingdoms era, in 247 AD.

The current structure was renovated in September 2013 and stands over 44 meters high, with seven floors and eight sides.

Many locals are fascinated by the view of the full moon hanging over the top of the centuries-old pagoda.

Downtown: Pingjiang Road

The 800-year-old Pingjiang Road is a romantic venue even without a moon. Walking along the stone road beside the canal, people can see a dozen beautiful bridges.

Usually bustling and full of energy, the road regains serenity at night, but there is still so much to see. People can sit in one of the small cafes, eat moon cakes, and drink tea or coffee while appreciating the full moon.

Zhouzhuang (Photo/Suzhou Daily)

Kunshan: Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang is a well-preserved water town. The town is a charming representation of the Venice of the East with waterways and exquisite arch bridges. People who spend the night there can have much of it to themselves after the crowds dissipate at sunset.

A famous attraction there is Nanhu Autumn Moon Garden where visitors can enjoy the entire Nanhu Lake illuminated by the golden moon in the autumn breeze.