A giant moon-shaped balloon with a height of 15-metres has been brought into Hong Kong harbour ahead of the mid-autumn festival.

The event, also known as the Moon Festival, is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar.

It is traditionally celebrated in China, Japan, Korea and other southeast Asian countries to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.

The mid-autumn festival is one of the most reputed family celebrations in China and Hong Kong. Originally linked to the end of the harvest season, it became entangled some 2,000 years ago with a legend around Chang'e, the goddess of the moon, said to have become a symbol of immortality and eternal love.

The moon has a strong presence in Chinese culture as many seasonal festivals are organized around the moon's cycles. Artists have also contributed to celebrate the moon such as with the famous song "The moon represents my heart", by the late Taiwanese artist Teresa Teng.

Although Hong Kong has had zero local Covid cases for a few months now, other events such as the mid-autumn carnival are still banned, despite various displays of decorations around the city.