Taiwan celebrates the Qixi Festival which is the Asian version of Valentine’s Day. It’s an observed holiday on August 4, 2022.
This day is the Asian version of Valentine’s Day which is well known and celebrated among couples in Taiwan.
This Chinese festival celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in mythology. – In recent times, it’s getting more known as ‘Qixi Festival’ and the ‘Double Seventh Festival’ by locals since it falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on the lunar calendar.
🗓️ Chinese Valentines Day is an observed holiday, all schools and businesses should still be running as usual.
Looking for places to date in Taipei?
Taipei 101
The business district has always been a popular dating spot in Taipei. During Chinese Valentine’s Day, many restaurants and shopping center offers promotions exclusively for the holiday. Taipei 101’s wall usually presents special holiday lighting.
One of the best and quickest ways to book at most restaurants is through their official Facebook page. If they don’t offer a booking service directly through the platform, most restaurant Facebook pages usually redirect you to their website bookings page.
Miramar Entertainment Park
The Ferris wheel is always a romantic symbol. The shopping center in Neihu, Taipei offers a Ferris wheel ride, a great itinerary for the special day.
Taipei Rainbow Bridge
It’s a 2-minute walk from Raohe St. Night Market. Taipei Rainbow Bridge is located in Songshan District; Taipei near Raohe St. Night Market is the new hot spot for couples. With the bridge available for couples to sign and lock their locks on the fence symbolizing lasting relationships, Taipei Rainbow Bridge is a great place to spend the evening.
Tamsui Fishermen’s Wharf
Tamsui old street along the river has always been a popular attraction in Taipei for couples or not. The coming Valentine’s Day should spice up the romantic riverside journey a lot more.
Single?
Singles would go to the Temple of Matchmaker (Temple of Yue Lao) to pray for good matching on Chinese Valentine’s Day. Also, various events would be held at the Temple of Matchmaker and in Taiwan cities such as firework displays at Kaohsiung Love River, Tamsui, Dadaocheng, and all around Taiwan.
5 taboos to dodge on Qixi Festival in Taiwan
1. Don’t get married
Although the Qixi festival is romantic, it is best not to get married on this day because it is said that the cowherd and weaver girl were separated after meeting on the Magpie Bridge.
It is said that if a couple gets married on Qixi Festival, within three years their feelings for each other will easily change.
The other reason to avoid getting married on Qixi is that it is during Ghost Month, which is not considered a suitable time for marriage.
2. Don’t wear torn clothing
Although many fashion trends feature ripped clothing such as jeans, it is best not to wear torn clothing on Qixi because the weaver girl’s job is to make clothing. Wearing torn and tattered clothing on this day may upset the weaver girl and cause rifts in relationships.
3. Don’t have sex
Couples can enjoy the company of their significant other on Qixi, but are advised against becoming overly passionate. The ancients did not recommend engaging in sex that night because the seventh day of the seventh month is one of the five major sacrificial days in Taoism.
On this day, offerings must be made to the ancestors and gods. Therefore, people are advised against engaging in carnal pleasures.
4. Don’t point at the moon
In general, pointing with the index finger at the moon is disrespectful to the moon goddess Chang’e and she will retaliate by cutting your ear clean off, or at least cut it slightly.
In addition, during the Qixi Festival, it is considered even worse to point at the moon because, in addition to the original punishment from Chang’e, it may cause one’s lover to have a change of heart.
5. Don’t wear red
Although red traditionally has very festive connotations and is very suitable for romantic occasions, the Qixi Festival occurs during Ghost Month and red also symbolizes blood. Therefore, it is advisable to wear fewer items of clothing that are red, and an entirely red outfit should be especially avoided.
Source: Taiwan News
