Citi Field, the home of baseball's New York Mets, gave fans a taste of Chinese culture before the Mets' September 26th game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with dragon dancers andkung fuartists entertaining fans.

Li Li (left), executive vice-president of the Sino-American Friendship Association; Chinese consul general in New York, Sun Guoxiang (center); New York Mets vice-president Dave Howard pose for a snapshot before the Mets' Sept 26 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. [Photo/ Liu Yuhan]

Wearing a Mets jersey presented by team vice president Dave Howard, China's New York consul general, Sun Guoxiang, added the final decorative touch to the dragon before kicking the game. Chinese culture night at the ballpark also included Xue Yaping, head of the China National Tourist Office in New York; Jianxin Lin of the American Chinese Commerce Development Association; and artist Yuan Xikun, who did traditional Chinese brush-drawing.

Sun Guoxiang (left), China's consul general in New York, and Peter Zhang, president of the Sino-American Friendship Association, add a decorative touch to a dragon puppet that was part of the Chinese cultural presentation preceding the New York Mets' home game on Sept 26.[Photo/Liu Yuhan]

The celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, was organized by Mets and the Sino-American Culture and Art Foundation. Helping with the festivities were the Chinese-American Business Development Center and China Press.

Peter Zhang, president of the Sino-American Friendship Association, and Li Li, its executive vice president, said the Citi Field festivities, now in their fourth year, are meant to give baseball fans some insight into China through its traditional cultural forms.

The mid-autumn festival, orzhongqiu, takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar. It's considered one of the most important holidays by Chinese when families gather for celebrations that include carrying lanterns, performing dragon dances and eating traditional pastries called mooncakes.

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Contact the writer at liuyuhan11@chinadailyusa.com