First, I have to apologize - this post is about a week late! I've been really excited to share my Mid-Autumn Festival experience in Suzhou and wanted to take time to write it properly.

One of my favorite things about traveling solo is discovering local activities organized by community groups. Wherever I go, I've found these cheap or free events that give you authentic insights into the local culture and history.

My Mid-Autumn Festival Adventure

I found a lantern-making workshop in Suzhou for Mid-Autumn Festival, and it turned out to be such a special experience. The event started with a presentation about Chang'e, the moon goddess, and the story they shared was fascinating.

According to the legend, long ago there were 10 suns in the sky. They burned all the plants and people were dying from the heat. Then a hero named Hou Yi used his bow and arrows to shoot down nine of them, saving everyone on Earth.

As a reward, the Queen Mother of the West gave Hou Yi a magical elixir that could grant immortality. But there was only enough for one person. Even though Hou Yi wanted to become immortal, he loved his wife Chang'e more than eternal life. So instead of drinking it, he asked Chang'e to keep the elixir safe.

Unfortunately, while Hou Yi was away, his student Pang Meng broke into their house and tried to steal the elixir. Chang'e knew she couldn't fight him off, so she made a quick decision - she drank the entire elixir herself. Immediately, she began floating up to the moon, where she became the Moon Goddess.

When Hou Yi returned home and found his wife gone, he was heartbroken. He set out all her favorite fruits and cakes under the moonlight, hoping she could see them. This is why during Mid-Autumn Festival, we eat mooncakes and gaze at the moon - we're continuing his tradition of remembering their love.

The Tradition of Mooncakes

I learned that mooncakes are much more than just festival treats. Their round shape represents completeness and family reunion. When families share mooncakes together, it symbolizes unity and togetherness. The mooncakes often have beautiful designs on top - Chinese characters for "longevity" or images of the moon, Chang'e, or rabbits.

At our workshop, we were served a plate of traditional foods, including a delicious pork mooncake. Tasting these foods while learning their cultural significance made the whole experience even more meaningful.

Tips for Finding Local Activities While Traveling

When you're traveling, especially solo, I highly recommend looking for local community events on social media:

• Facebook often has local community pages and event listings
• WeChat is essential in China for finding activities
• Instagram - search your city's hashtag to discover events
• Many cities have tourism pages that share free cultural activities

Why Solo Travelers Should Join Group Activities

What I love about attending these organized events is that you're never really alone. At the lantern workshop, there were several other solo travelers, and we all bonded while creating our lanterns together. By the end of the evening, I'd made friends from different countries while learning about Chinese culture.

These local activities are perfect for solo travelers - you arrive alone but leave with new connections and a deeper understanding of the culture. It's a natural, comfortable way to meet people without the awkwardness of forced interactions.

Have you discovered any interesting local activities while traveling? I'd love to hear about your experiences!