Qixi Festival: A love story written in the stars

▲ Why do people celebrate the Qixi Festival?

The festival commemorates the legendary love between Niulang, a mortal, and Zhinu, a celestial being, who were separated by the Milky Way. According to the story, they can meet only once a year, on Qixi, when magpies come together and create a bridge in the sky for them to be together.

Qixi is more than a love story. It also reflects traditional Chinese values like loyalty, longing and the belief that love can overcome time and distance. In ancient times, it was also a day when women prayed for wisdom, skill and happiness in marriage, making the festival both romantic and ritualistic.