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Folk activities celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day

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      China

      China

      Folk activities celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day

      2024-08-10 22:09 Last Updated At:08-11 03:17

      Various folk activities were held across China on Saturday to celebrate the Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, with the hope of bringing new vitality to traditional culture.

      The festival, which originates from a 2,000-year-old legend of two lovers, falls on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar and celebrates the legendary annual union between the mythological figures. The two lovers, Niulang and Zhinyu -- one a cowherd and the other a weaver fairy, the youngest of the seven daughters of the Queen of Heaven -- were separated by the Silver River (the Milky Way) because their love was forbidden by the gods. They could reunite only once a year when a flock of magpies formed a bridge across the river.

      The Qixi Festival was listed as a state-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

      In Xuanen Township of Enshi City, located in central China's Hubei Province, a water-splashing event provided both locals and tourists with relief from the summer heat. As night fell, a parade featuring seven fairies was staged.

      "My husband and I came to Xuanen to celebrate the Qixi Festival. There are many performances rich in ethnic characteristics. I like the hand-waving dance here; it has a lot of local character. This small town is very romantic. I like it very much," said Cai Yao, a tourist.

      At a historical and cultural district in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, performers dressed in traditional costumes staged a wedding procession, offering tourists a rare chance to relish the boisterous atmosphere.

      "We have organized these Qixi folk activities for three consecutive years. We hope more young people can respect and inherit traditions through such immersive experiences and bring new vitality to our traditional culture," said Xia Lei, office director of the Renfengli historical and cultural district.

      Folk activities celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day

      Folk activities celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day

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      Chinese embassies hold receptions to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival

      2025-01-21 21:46 Last Updated At:22:07

      Festive receptions were held by Chinese embassies to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, with the promotional video for the 2025 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala unveiled to add festive atmosphere to the events.

      The Spring Festival centers around the Chinese New Year, which lands on Jan. 29 this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

      The Chinese Embassy in Tajikistan hosted a Spring Festival reception on Jan. 20 for overseas Chinese in Tajikistan. Nearly 300 people, including representatives of overseas Chinese groups such as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Tajikistan, the Federation of Overseas Chinese, teachers and students from the local Confucius Institute, and international students in Tajikistan, gathered to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Snake.

      In his speech delivered at the reception, China's Ambassador to Tajikistan Ji Shumin said that China's high-quality development and high-level opening-up have injected certainty and stability into a turbulent and changing world. China-Tajikistan cooperation in various fields has been promoted across the board, and the development of bilateral relations has reached a new level. Looking forward to 2025, China-Tajikistan relations will shine with new vitality and bring more benefits to the people of both countries, said the ambassador.

      The promotional video for the 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala was played in a loop at the reception. By watching the video, guests felt the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival and the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture.

      At the reception, overseas Chinese in Tajikistan performed a variety of cultural programs created by themselves. The joyous lion dance, the melodious guzheng performance, and the passionate Tajik eagle dance added a great deal to the festive atmosphere.

      The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the Federation of Philippine-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Philippine-Chinese Associations, and the Philippine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce jointly held a Spring Festival reception on Jan. 19. More than 1,000 people from the Philippine government, Congress, overseas Chinese, people from all walks of life, and foreign diplomatic envoys to the Philippines gathered to celebrate the festival.

      Huang Xilian, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, extended New Year greetings to people from all walks of life in China and the Philippines, saying that the Spring Festival is a common festival for the people of many countries, including China and the Philippines, and has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. He said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, and he hopes that both countries will cherish and maintain the bilateral relations for greater benefits to the people of the two countries.

      Philippine Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., extended new year greetings via video link. Duterte said that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China is of great significance, and she looks forward to the two countries working together to create a harmonious and prosperous future. Marcos said that the Philippines-China relations have been developing continuously for decades, which truly reflects the long-term friendly relations between the people of the two countries.

      The promotional video for the 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala was played at the reception. The festive atmosphere and gorgeous stage design attracted the attention of all the guests present.

      Chinese embassies hold receptions to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival

      Chinese embassies hold receptions to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival

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