Couples get married in a traditional group wedding ceremony in Zhenjiang, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Saturday, five days before the Qixi Festival, the day celebrated as Chinese Valentine’s Day. Photo: VCG

Handmade figurines of the cowherd and the weaver girl stand on display Friday at an event in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province. The two are characters from a Chinese folktale that is commemorated during the festival. Photo: VCG

The Longxi Bridge in Guangzhou is decorated with lanterns Friday for the upcoming festival. Photo: VCG

Two women show their handcraft in Guangzhou on Sunday. Qixi is also a day when women are encouraged to show off their skills. Photo: VCG

A woman makes a local dessert called “kahua” Tuesday for Qixi in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong province. Photo: VCG

Customers walk through a special market Sunday that opened for the week of Qixi in the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, where hundreds of umbrellas hang in the air as decorations. Photo: VCG