Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! We hope your long weekend is off to a good start. Like any Chinese festival, food plays a big part in the celebrations of mid-autumn festival, the most popular being mooncakes, but what other food is enjoyed and why?
中秋节快乐！我们希望你漫长的周末能有个好的开始。和任何一个中国节日一样，食物在中秋节的庆祝活动中扮演着重要的角色，最受欢迎的是月饼，但是还有什么其他的食物可以享受呢？为什么要吃他们呢？
We’ve put together a scrumptious list of popular food you can eat over this glorious festival that celebrates the season’s harvest.
我们已经整理了一份美味清单，是你可以在这个中秋节享用的受欢迎的食物，来庆祝这个季节的收获。
Duck 鸭肉
Image via Unsplash 图片来自Unsplash
You don’t need to go very far to find this delicacy, especially in Mid-Autumn Festival as it is the most popular food after mooncakes. Chinese people believe it plays an important part in keeping the yin yang balance in our body, thus to enhance health.
你不需要走很远的路就能找到这种美味，尤其是在中秋节，因为它是继月饼第二受欢迎的食物。中国人相信它在维持人体阴阳平衡方面起着重要作用，从而增强体质。
Pumpkins 南瓜
Image via Unsplash 图片来自Unsplash
Much like western countries, the pumpkin becomes a popular vegetable through the autumn months. Eating pumpkin on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival is believed to bring good health because of its round golden appearance.
和西方国家一样，南瓜在秋天变成了一种受欢迎的蔬菜。在中秋节晚上吃南瓜，因其圆润金黄色的外观而被认为会给人带来健康。
River Snails 田螺
Image via Wikimedia Commons 图片来自Wikimedia Commons
In the south of China, particularly for Cantonese people, river snails are an important dish and is thought to help brighten the eyes. Because of its strong odour, it is often cooked with medicinal herbs.
在中国南方，特别是对广东人来说，田螺是一种重要的菜肴，被认为有助于明亮眼睛。由于田螺有强烈的气味，所以它经常与草药一起煮。
Taro 芋头
Taro cake – image via Max Pixel 图片来自Max Pixel
People love the fresh and soft texture of taro and it becomes a versatile vegetable during Autumn used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Since the Qing Dynasty, it is believed that eating taro during the Mid-Autumn Festival will dispel bad luck and bring good luck and wealth.
人们喜欢芋头新鲜而柔软的质地，它在秋天成为一种可塑性很强的蔬菜，既可用于甜食，也可作为于美味的菜肴。自清朝以来，人们相信在中秋节吃芋头会消除厄运，带来好运和财富。
Hairy Crab 大闸蟹
Shanghai Hairy Crab – Image via Wikimedia Commons 图片来自Wikimedia Commons
Eating hairy crab has become a popular delicacy in recent years and they’re at their best in September and October, being richest in protein and amino acids. The custom of eating them originated from Jiangsu and Zhejiang but is now popular across southern China.
近年来，大闸蟹已成为一种受欢迎的美食，它们富含蛋白质和氨基酸，并在9月和10月达到了最佳可食状态。这个习俗起源于江苏和浙江，现在在中国南方很流行。