Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China Oct. 6, 2025

Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China

The shiver felt under a full autumn moon, when the air hints at winter"s arrival, has a way of lingering in memory. One of China"s most cherished holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival—also known as the Moon Festival—adds another touch of magic to the end of the harvest season. It"s celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar—this year, on October 6. According to legend, it"s also the night when the moon goddess Chang"e watches over the world.

© Philippe LEJEANVRE/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Dragon tails trail to the sea
Oct. 6, 2023Taughannock Falls State Park, New York

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec. 5, 2023Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles, Bavaria, Germany
This clever bird passes with flying colours
We can all just get along
Stretching to the sky
Nov. 21, 2024Aspen trees, British Columbia
Jul 5, 2026Lavender rows, Plateau de Valensole, Provence, France
Straight out of a fairytale
Stars in daylight
Sep. 12, 2025World Dolphin Day
Aug. 29, 2025Aerial view of Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
Mar. 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales, UK
Oct. 2, 2023World Architecture Day
Jan. 19, 2026Abraham Lake, Alberta
Jul 11, 2026Boneyard Beach, Hunting Island, South Carolina, United States
Nov. 5, 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
Positively purple peaks
Dec. 14, 2024Christmas Bird Count turns 125
Aug. 9, 2025International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Nimble and stealthy
Nov. 25, 2025Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Jul. 29, 2025International Tiger Day
Dec. 2, 2025Whistler, British Columbia
Aug. 4, 2025Great grey owls in their nest, Finland
Dec. 3, 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Sep. 24, 2024Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Golden cliffs of deep space
Jan. 26, 2026Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
Owl be seeing you ... somewhere!
A glimpse of Yoho National Park
Jul 20, 2026International Moon Day