Qufu bewitched by traditional Qixi wedding rites

The ancient streets of the Liaohe River in Qufu were transformed into a romantic setting for a Qixi collective Chinese wedding ceremony on Aug 10.

The event coincided with the traditional Chinese Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day.

Five couples participated in the ceremony, donning traditional Chinese wedding attire. They conducted a modern adaptation of ancient rituals, including the Woguan rite (washing hands with flowing water), hand-holding, signing the marriage certificate, taking an oath, and making a commitment.

Five couples adorned in traditional Chinese wedding attire partake in a collective wedding ceremony during the Qixi Festival. [Photo/Qilu News]

The ceremony was officiated by Xu Peng, director of the Qufu civil affairs bureau. Following the traditional rites, the couples embarked on a journey in a boat adorned with red lanterns. With the river as their witness and guests as their audience, they exchanged vows and took part in ceremonial acts.

In recent years, Jining has focused on preserving and developing its traditional culture by integrating traditional festivals with wedding customs reforms. This initiative promotes a new civilized trend, strengthens the reform of wedding customs, and improves the marriage certification process.

Along the Liaohe River, a mobile marriage registration point has been established, increasing the convenience of wedding and certification procedures in Jining. This initiative not only enriches the ceremonial experience of marriage certification and collective weddings but also enables participating couples to deeply engage with traditional Chinese marriage customs, leading to a transformative approach to wedding traditions.