"Qi xi" (Seventh evening) or "Qin Ren Jie" (Lover's Day) occurs on th seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the year.  This year, Chinese Valentines Day will be celebrated on Thursday August 20 of the Western Calendar.  Whilst it has its origins in folklore, it is celebrated in much the same way as Westerners celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th each year.

There are many tales in Chinese folklore surrounding Qi xi.  One of the more popular ones describes the forbidden love between the daughter of a heavenly emperor and a cow-herder.  Very much in love, the princess ran away from the heavenly palace to live with the cow herder.  They lived together happily on earth, raising two children and leading a simple life.  The emperor soon found them, and separated them.  The heavenly empress used her hair-pin to draw a line across the sky, making it impossible for the cow herder and his wife to get back together.

This line eventually turned into a heavenly river.  Once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, magpies would fly together and make a bridge so the cow herder and the princess could step across them and meet again.  This is why magpies are bald – being stepped on at the same time each year made them lose their head feathers.

Chinese girls will pray to the princess on this day, in the hope they can be gifted with spinning skills, and also win the hearts of their loved ones.  So, this day is also known as "qi ciao" or "begging for skills".

This folktale of forbidden love is also represented in the summer sky.  It is said that the stars Altair (of the constellation Aquila) and Vega (of the constellation Lyra) will cross each other in the summer night sky.  Altair (the young man) is accompanied by two small stars (the two children).  Vega (the princess) travels alone.  The stars are separated by a river in the sky ; The Milky Way.

It has long been tradition to go out with your loved one on the evening of Chinese Valentine's Day.  In recent years, the day has been celebrated in similar ways to Western Valentine's Day – giving gifts or going out for dinner.  Throughout Taiwan, special Valentine's Day menus are offered, usually at a premium with some small gift or gimmick in the package.

There will be a three-day event in the Danshui area, including a fireworks display on Aug 22.