On this Mid-Autumn Festival night, a bright full moon embodies the eternal Chinese longing for reunion and exploration. Tonight, Michelin simultaneously illuminated giant lunar art installations in three locations: Shanghai’s North Bund, Guangzhou’s Yongqing Fang, and Chengdu’s Chunxi Road. Through an immersive experience blending technology and art, the company pays tribute to traditional Chinese culture while vividly demonstrating Michelin’s “Innovation, Beyond the Road” exploration spirit.

At the scene, visitors could not only take photos with the giant lunar art installation, experiencing the beautiful harmony between “the moon in the sky and the moon on earth,” but also learn about Michelin’s century-long exploration footprint and innovation blueprint in composite materials through interactive exhibitions.

As a global leader in tire and composite materials manufacturing with 136 years of history, Michelin consistently extends cutting-edge technology to various fields including transportation, aerospace, low-carbon energy, and healthcare, providing life-changing composite materials and extraordinary experiences for humanity.

Having been rooted in China for over three decades, Michelin has always protected consumer safety through innovative mobility technology. Currently, Michelin has established a diversified business system in China covering tires, polymer composite solutions, and lifestyle products. Relying on four modern production bases and one research and development center in China, Michelin continues to deepen its presence in the Chinese market, not only achieving synergistic development with China’s automotive industry but also feeding global innovation with local achievements and talent resources.

In Chinese culture, the moon symbolizes not only reunion but also humanity’s aspiration and pursuit of the unknown. Michelin believes this spirit of exploration drives continuous progress and iteration in mobility technology. This Mid-Autumn Festival, Michelin uses the lunar art installation as a medium to vividly demonstrate the brand’s “Innovation, Beyond the Road” concept and integrate exploration vision into daily travel and future blueprints.

Looking toward the more distant future, Michelin continues to extend its brand exploration journey. With leading polymer composite solutions, Michelin’s airless tires developed for lunar rovers made their Asian debut at last year’s China International Import Expo. These tires can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations from -240°C to over 100°C in space environments while maintaining stable traction and wear resistance in strong radiation environments and soft lunar soil, capable of enduring millions of deformation cycles.

Michelin is not only a global leader in tire manufacturing but also an enterprise with a century of innovation in engineering materials. Leveraging deep expertise in composites, Michelin continuously expands application boundaries, providing cutting-edge solutions for different industries and driving industrial progress and upgrading.

To date, Michelin Group’s research and innovation work covers over 350 specialized fields, including aerospace, low-carbon energy, healthcare, industrial manufacturing, and construction. In maritime applications, Michelin participated in developing the revolutionary automatic wing sail system WISAMO (Wing Sailing Mobility), using composite materials that withstand marine environments while being flexible and durable, aiming to reduce ship greenhouse gas emissions. In healthcare, Michelin develops polymer composite materials with excellent biocompatibility used in artificial intervertebral disc prostheses, precisely simulating the mechanical properties and biological functions of natural cartilage. The precision transmission belts in coffee machines use composites that combine flexibility and toughness, ensuring smooth and precise transmission while maintaining stable grinding temperatures to preserve coffee’s original aroma. Michelin-developed composites are also used to manufacture lightweight building components that ensure structural strength while reducing carbon emissions.

Michelin is an innovation-driven, continuously progressing group. Over the past 136 years, this innovative, universal, and optimistic force has remained our inexhaustible vitality and continues to shape the group’s future. Michelin will continue to launch more high-tech, innovative, and environmentally friendly products.

From road surfaces to lunar surfaces, from travel safety to daily life details, Michelin’s innovation always resonates with humanity’s pursuit of a better future. Moving forward, Michelin will continue to partner with Chinese users, upholding the “Innovation, Beyond the Road” spirit, to journey together toward a more effortless, beautiful, and sustainable world.

North Bund

The North Bund is a revitalized waterfront area along the Huangpu River in Shanghai, historically known as a bustling hub for international trade and shipping. Once home to wharves and warehouses, it has been transformed into a modern public space featuring parks, promenades, and cultural landmarks, offering iconic views of the Lujiazui skyline. This redevelopment connects the area’s industrial past with its contemporary role as a major leisure and tourist destination.

Yongqing Fang

Yongqing Fang is a revitalized historic district in Guangzhou, China, known for its preserved Lingnan-style architecture and traditional arcade houses (qilou). Originally an old residential area, it has been transformed into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub that showcases the city’s heritage. Today, it features shops, cafes, and art installations, blending its historical charm with modern urban life.

Chunxi Road

Chunxi Road is a historic and bustling commercial pedestrian street in Chengdu, China, dating back to the 1920s. It has long been a central hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment, reflecting the city’s vibrant urban culture. Today, it seamlessly blends modern retail with preserved historical architecture, remaining a premier destination for both locals and tourists.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a major harvest celebration with roots in China’s ancient moon worship traditions over 3,000 years ago. Today, it is widely celebrated across East and Southeast Asia as a family reunion holiday, where people gather to admire the full moon, share mooncakes, and carry lanterns.

China International Import Expo

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is the world’s first national-level import-themed expo, first held in Shanghai in 2018. It was initiated by the Chinese government to promote trade liberalization and economic globalization, serving as a major platform for international businesses to access the vast Chinese market. The annual event showcases a wide range of imported goods, technologies, and services from countries around the globe.

WISAMO

I am unable to provide a summary for “WISAMO” as it does not appear to be a recognized historical place or cultural site. WISAMO is actually an acronym for a modern innovation project by the company Michelin, standing for **WI**ng **SA**il **MO**bility. It is an inflatable, automated wing sail system designed to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for maritime shipping.

lunar rovers

Lunar rovers are electric vehicles designed for surface exploration on the Moon. The first was the American-built Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), which was used during the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions (1971-1972) to extend the astronauts’ range for scientific exploration. More recently, uncrewed rovers, such as China’s Yutu rovers, have continued this legacy of lunar discovery.

artificial intervertebral disc prostheses

Artificial intervertebral disc prostheses are medical devices developed as an alternative to spinal fusion surgery for treating degenerative disc disease. They were first implanted in the late 1980s, with modern designs emerging in the 2000s, aiming to preserve natural spinal motion and reduce stress on adjacent discs. These prostheses replicate the function of a natural spinal disc by acting as a movable cushion between vertebrae.