The story of Chang'e is the heart of the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiūjié). The most common version of the myth goes like this: Long ago, ten suns scorched the earth. The heroic archer Hou Yi (后羿) shot down nine of them, saving humanity. As a reward, he was given an elixir of immortality. Not wanting to live forever without his beloved wife Chang'e, he gave the elixir to her for safekeeping. However, one of Hou Yi's wicked apprentices, Peng Meng, tried to steal the elixir while Hou Yi was away. To prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, Chang'e drank the elixir herself. She immediately became immortal and floated up into the sky, finally landing on the moon, the closest celestial body to Earth. Heartbroken, Hou Yi would look at the full moon each year and lay out a feast of Chang'e's favorite fruits and cakes, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. This tradition of offering food and gazing at the moon became the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the moon, Chang'e is said to have only one companion: the Jade Rabbit (玉兔, Yùtù), who is often seen pounding the elixir of life.
While an ancient figure, Chang'e is highly relevant in modern China.