The mid-autumn festival in September is also known as the ‘Mooncake festival’ in China. The festival is meant to celebrate the full moon. In Chinese culture, the round-shaped moon symbolises family reunion and prosperity.
This year’s mid-autumn festival on the 10th of September is unique enough to be remembered by the British–Chinese people in London, as Queen Elizabeth II died 2 days before the traditional Chinese moon festival in September 2022. Thus, the mid-autumn festival of 2022 for Chinese in the United Kingdom speaks the languages of not only missing home but also fond thoughts with their deceased grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
A stall has been set up in Gerrard Street, Chinatown, for people to pay their respect to the late Queen on the 9th of September. The mourning service is organised by an unofficial Chinese community the ‘Chinese Information and Advice Centre’ in London.
Chen, a Malaysian volunteer who works for the community, demonstrates, “Our community’s mid-autumn festival gathering dinner was cancelled following the announcement of the Queen’s death on the 8th of September”.
Image: People sign for the Queen’s condolence in Chinatown
“We’ve been standing here and pursuing people pass by Chinatown to sign for the Queen’s condolence book since the 10th of September. The condolence book will be sent to the new King of Buckingham Palace.”
“So far, more than 1000 people have signed and written their personal messages for the Queen. Half of the signatures and messages are from UK-based Chinese, and the rest are from the British and people from other nationalities. We merely have any Chinese tourists signing for the condolence book because of the sensitive UK–China relations at the moment.”
“Today is the last day of my volunteer work to mourn the Queen in Chinatown. Tomorrow will be the Queen’s funeral, and this stand will be removed from Gerrard Street in Chinatown. I work here every day from 12 pm mid-day to 7 pm.”
“I’m from Malaysia and have lived in London for over 20 years. I have strong emotions towards the late Queen as Malaysia used to be a British colony from 1826 to 1957. The British administration in Malaysia profoundly influenced people from my generation and me in my country”, says Chen.
Jay, a Beijing-born constructor in London, reacts to the death of the Queen on social media, during the mid-autumn festival weekend, “Have a safe journey to heaven, Madam. Let’s treasure the present moment and our loved ones”.
People in Beijing also mourned the Queen’s passing. May, a property investor in Beijing who travelled to the United Kingdom frequently before Covid, recalls, “A few years ago, I was in London as a tourist and saw the Queen’s carriage pass by. It was such a fate to see her.”
“From what we saw in the media, the Queen presents the noble side of human nature you can imagine: kindness, sympathy, tolerance, diligence, propriety and elegance. I think it’s rare to have a head of state who fulfils all these qualities. It was so touching to see people laying flowers outside the Buckingham Palace.”
“I don’t mind mourning her death during the traditional Chinese mid-autumn festival. In Chinese culture, when someone prestigious passes away at 80 or 90, we call their funeral ‘Celebrations of life’, where people gather to pay tribute to the deceased and reminisce about the good times rather than mourn their death. It was my honour to witness the passing of such a significant character.” Says the Wuhan-born in Beijing.
Grace Kim, a former student in London in 2008 who moved back to Shanghai, states, “I cried when I saw the Queen’s children walk behind her coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. On the 8th of September around midnight in Shanghai, I heard the news of the Queen’s passing; I felt extremely emotional and didn’t sleep well that night.”
“I was so fond of her. Anecdotes about Queen Elizabeth II such as her daily routine, her corgis, her favourite three-strand pearl necklace and her favourite food can all be found on the Internet. Other world leaders seemed untouchable for us; in comparison, the late Queen was so down-to-earth and adorable like a grandma.”
“It would be so kind of you if you could keep a set of coins featuring the Queen’s portrait for me”, a former student in London requires.
Images of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visiting the Great Wall in Beijing and Yun Nan in 1986 were widely spread on the Weibo website. It reminded the people in China that Queen Elizabeth II was the British monarch to visit China following the country’s adoption of the ‘Open Door Policy’. Many commented below the post, “Sadly we won’t see that lady who’s dressing in all the rainbow colours ever again.”
Nevertheless, other people in China seemed antipathetic towards the United Kingdom because of its history and colonialism, for instance, Hong Kong. Hong Kong actor Law Kar Ying was widely criticised by Chinese social media users for mourning the death of Elizebeth II on Weibo. Voices such as “Would Hong Kong be a ‘blessed land’ if it’s not being taken care of by China? The British colonised so many places; which country can be called a ‘blessed land’ except Hong Kong? Is it India? I can’t believe you cried for the death of a colonial invader” were highly praised on Weibo.
Her Majesty’s 70-year reign ends, and the ‘rise and fall’ UK–China ties continue, following a group of MPs banning the Chinese Vice President from attending Queen Elizebeth II’s funeral, due to their campaigns against Chinese repression.
According to a famous quote remarking the mid-autumn festival, “May we all be blessed with longevity, though thousands of miles apart. We are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.” Although it seems like a mere wish, the Queen’s era and her enduring leadership are always remembered by her well-wishers among the Chinese population in China and the United Kingdom.
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