Full coverage: Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

'Wherever you may be this night, you and I are watching the same moon, as it is the one and only.'

On Thursday, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese in various places were reciting this line from a famous ancient poem, while gazing at the moon.

In Qinhuangdao of North China's Hebei Province, people gathered where the Great Wall stretches into the ocean. They took pictures while imagining about how ancient soldiers guarding the wall centuries ago missed their families.

In Guilin of Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Tower of Sun and Tower of Moon stand peacefully on the water.  An ancient bronze bell rang out, as people prayed for happiness.

In Beijing, the country's capital, the moon shone quietly over Beihai Park.  The imperial park was designed in accordance with the Chinese legends about heaven.  Boats sail on sparkling water with a golden glow.

At Lianyungang of East China's Jiangsu Province, fireworks were lit to reflect the bright moonlight.

At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of Northwest China's Gansu Province, Tiangong-2 waited quietly for its zero hour before lift-off.

Tiangong-2

Tiangong means "heavenly palace".  According to legend, it was one of the palaces built on the Moon.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

It's a time for family reunions.