Celebrating love and legends

Qixi, often called Chinese Valentine’s Day, has been observed for more than 2,000 years. It falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month — this year on Friday.

The festival’s legend tells of a forbidden love between a celestial Weaver Girl and a mortal cowherd, separated by a heavenly river and granted an annual reunion when magpies form a bridge. The story symbolizes enduring connection across time, space and fate.

Traditional customs include showing off needle‑threading skill under the moon — those who can thread the eyes of seven needles without mistake were deemed especially deft — and setting out offerings of fruit and wine to the Weaver Girl to pray for a good marriage and a happy life.

Today people mark Qixi by exchanging gifts like flowers, chocolates and jewelry, enjoying romantic outings or dinners, and many couples choose to marry on the day.

Here is a selection of photos capturing joyful Qixi celebrations across China.

A couple poses for photos beneath light decorations in Tengzhou, Shandong Province, on Friday. Photos by Xinhua

A couple married for 50 years poses during a Qixi Festival event in a community in Lanshan District, Linyi, Shandong Province, on Friday.

A newlywed couple poses for a photo after receiving their marriage certificate at the registration office in Binzhou, Shandong Province, on Friday.

Staff dressed as animation figures give passers-by free gifts of roses at Love Song Plaza in Kangding, Sichuan Province on Friday.

An aerial photo taken Friday shows couples attending a group wedding ceremony in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province.