Lunar magic lights up the city's parks

Mid-autumn moon at its brightest in seven years as orbit moves closer to Earth

Thousands of moon-gazers and lantern fans packed parks across the city last night to soak up the atmosphere and walk off their Mid-Autumn Festival dinner feasts.

Torben Neilson, six, was among the revellers in Causeway Bay's Victoria Park, having the time of his life inside a giant volcano-shaped lantern in the park.

'It's so big and it makes sounds. It can move up and down and change colours,' he said gleefully after spending several minutes in the lantern, one of eight giant mechanical lanterns with synchronised audio, lighting and visual effects that together make up the Lantern Wonderland at the park.

Another visitor to the park, French marketing officer Delphine Chorlet, 24, said: 'This is the first time I've visited the Mid-Autumn Festival. The lanterns are wonderful and I like the animation.'

Jasmine Hui, five, is an old hand at visiting Victoria Park for the festival as she and her family attend each year. She was especially taken by the lantern designed in her favourite colour - pink.

Revellers also packed into the Kowloon Region Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival in Ko Shan Road Park, Hung Hom, the APM mall in Kwun Tong, and the huge lantern events in Sha Tin Park, Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan and the West Kowloon Promenade near the luxury Arch.