On the occasion of Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day), the first Qixi Love Festival at Qiankun Bay Scenic Area in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, was warmly launched on August 14th. The event, themed "Destined for Each Other Amidst Mountains and Rivers, Love Blossoms at Qiankun Bay," drew upon the cultural heritage of Fuxi and Nuwa, and the magnificent scenery of the Yellow River. Seven couples, dressed in traditional Chinese attire, were led by actors portraying Fuxi and Nuwa in a complete recreation of ancient Chinese wedding rites. The ancient-style group wedding attracted tourists to stop and watch, take photos, and enjoy the solemn, elegant, romantic, and passionate atmosphere.

At an auspicious time in the morning, seven couples from all over the country, dressed in elegant traditional Chinese attire, slowly entered the Qiankun Bay Scenic Area, walking along a red carpet, stepping over a fire basin and a saddle, before arriving at the main stage. Standing in a row, they solemnly exchanged vows and entered into marriage under the witness of the legendary ancestors of Chinese civilization, Fuxi and Nuwa. The grand love ceremony strictly followed the ancient marriage customs created by Fuxi and Nuwa, with a rigorous sequence of rites, each step linked to the next, and carrying profound meaning. The newlyweds first performed the betrothal ceremony, tracing back to ancient wedding customs and reaffirming their commitment to their union. Next, they underwent a purification ritual, washing their hands and minds to symbolize sincerity and a proper marriage. Then, holding hands and tying red ribbons together, they symbolized their predestined marriage, promising to be inseparable for life. Amidst ancient music, the newlyweds solemnly completed the rituals of sharing a meal and drinking from the same cup, embodying the meaning of marriage as one, sharing joys and sorrows, and weathering storms together.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone respectfully paid homage to the ancestral figures Fuxi and Nuwa, and revered the winding Yellow River. Couples exchanged vows and tied their hair together, symbolizing their love with their locks and the river as their witness. Seven couples used unique stones from the Yellow River as tokens of their love, collectively reciting their vows of fidelity and lifelong companionship on the banks of the Mother River. After the ceremony, the seven couples toured the Qiankun Bay Scenic Area, capturing unforgettable moments amidst the beautiful scenery. They hung prayer plaques at the prayer platform, facing the winding Yellow River, and sincerely made wishes for a long and peaceful life together, filled with peace, prosperity, and enduring love. In the evening, the seven couples joined other tourists to enjoy the "Encountering the Yellow River at Night" Qiankun Bay Summer Music Carnival's Qixi Festival love song concert.

The seven couples participating in the Qixi Festival included newlyweds, couples in the throes of new love, and couples who had been together for many years. Liu Dong, a young man currently in a relationship, and his girlfriend shared after the event that they met at Qiankun Bay, and participating in the Qixi Festival at Qiankun Bay strengthened their love. They hoped to attend the event every year. A representative from the Shaanxi Tourism Group's Qiankun Bay Scenic Area stated that the Qixi Festival was an attempt to integrate the natural landscape of the Yellow River with the Qixi Festival's romantic culture, and that a love-themed event would be held every Qixi Festival in the future.

(Source: China.com; Author: Song Ximing)