Qixi is the Chinese Valentine's Day.

Qixi, which falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is the Chinese Valentine's Day.Legend has it that it celebrates the annual meeting between the mythological figures of the Cowherd (or Niulang) and the Weaver Girl (or Zhinyu), who were separated by the Queen Mother for disobeying the dogma that a mortal cannot marry a fairy.

It is said that the Queen Mother took off one of her hairpins and created a river, the Milky Way to separate the couple. However, their loyalty touched the magpies. So they formed a bridge across the Milky Way to reunite the lovers.The Queen Mother was touched by their undying love and later agreed that the two could meet once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. This is how Qixi came to be. 

Traditionally, people would look up at the sky and find a bright star in the constellation Aquila as well as the star Vega, which are identified as Niulang and Zhinyu. The two stars shine on opposite sides of the Milky Way.

The love story between Niulang and Zhinyu has been passed down from generation to generation. Chinese literati have mentioned the legend in their works. As it says in a classic poem: “If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?”