Traditional group wedding held on Chinese Valentine's Day in China's Shanxi

STORY: Traditional group wedding held on Chinese Valentine's Day in China's Shanxi DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: GAOPING, China CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the group wedding 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LI PENG, Groom STORYLINE: A traditional group wedding was held in a village in north China's Shanxi Province on China's Qixi Festival, or the Chinese Valentine's Day. This year's Qixi Festival was on Tuesday. Many couples nationwide choose to tie the knot on this day. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LI PENG, Groom "The group wedding is lively and joyful. I think it will be memorable for both me and my wife. I believe it is the best wedding present for the two of us." The Qixi Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and celebrates the legend of the annual meeting between the mythological figures of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaoping, China. (XHTV)

Star festival opens in Sendai

Star festival opens in Sendai

SENDAI, Japan - An annual star festival called 'tanabata matsuri' opens in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on Aug. 6. Tanabata is observed on July 7 in many places in Japan. But Sendai's is held around Aug. 7. Over 2.3 million people are expected to visit the three-day festival which is well-known throughout Japan. Tanabata's celebration originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars - the Weaver Star and the Cowherd Star - who were said to be lovers but could meet only once a year on July 7.

Hiratsuka's Tanabata star festival held

Hiratsuka's Tanabata star festival held

HIRATSUKA, Japan - An annual star festival called 'tanabata matsuri' is held in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 7. The city southwest of Tokyo is famous for the crowd-drawing festival. Tanabata is observed on July 7, or, in some locales, Aug. 7. Its celebration originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars - the Weaver Star and the Cowherd Star - who were said to be lovers but could meet only once a year on July 7.

Traditional marriage registration ceremonies held in E China on Chinese Valentine's Day

STORY: Traditional marriage registration ceremonies held in E China on Chinese Valentine's Day DATELINE: Aug. 5, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:18 LOCATION: FUZHOU, China CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the activities STORYLINE: Traditional marriage registration ceremonies were held Thursday in Fuzhou, the capital city of east China's Fujian Province to mark this year's Qixi festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day. The staff arranged the marriage registration areas in advance and presented the lovebirds with perfume satchels, embodying their best wishes. The Qixi festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, celebrates the legend of the annual meeting between the mythological figures of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Fuzhou, China. (XHTV)

Star festival opens in Sendai

Star festival opens in Sendai

SENDAI, Japan - An annual star festival called 'tanabata matsuri' opens in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on Aug. 6. Tanabata is observed on July 7 in many places in Japan. But Sendai's is held around Aug. 7. Over 2.3 million people are expected to visit the three-day festival which is well-known throughout Japan. Tanabata's celebration originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars - the Weaver Star and the Cowherd Star - who were said to be lovers but could meet only once a year on July 7.

Hiratsuka's Tanabata star festival held

Hiratsuka's Tanabata star festival held

HIRATSUKA, Japan - An annual star festival called 'tanabata matsuri' is held in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 7. The city southwest of Tokyo is famous for the crowd-drawing festival. Tanabata is observed on July 7, or, in some locales, Aug. 7. Its celebration originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars - the Weaver Star and the Cowherd Star - who were said to be lovers but could meet only once a year on July 7.

Hiratsuka's Tanabata star festival held

Hiratsuka's Tanabata star festival held

HIRATSUKA, Japan - An annual star festival called 'tanabata matsuri' is held in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 7. The city southwest of Tokyo is famous for the crowd-drawing festival. Tanabata is observed on July 7, or, in some locales, Aug. 7. Its celebration originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars - the Weaver Star and the Cowherd Star - who were said to be lovers but could meet only once a year on July 7.