By Meng Fanrong

NANJING, Aug. 20, (China Economic Net)- More than 30 international students from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zambia, Morocco, Iran, Ghana and India gathered at the Nanjing World Literature Hall, a landmark cultural venue in China's first UNESCO "City of Literature," on August 19 to experience Chinese poetic culture, calligraphy and hands-on creativity during a Qixi Festival cultural celebration.

The Qixi Festival, falling on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, is China's most romantic traditional festival, commemorating the legendary love between the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Originally known as the "Qiqiao Festival" or "Begging for Skills Festival," it was a day when young women prayed for wisdom and dexterity in needlework.

The event is part of the 2026 Qixi Garden Party, which runs from August 15 to 23, offering a crossover integrated experience that blends classical poetry, contemporary music, ancient scripts and intangible heritage crafts.

International students sang along to Chinese poems, photo by CEN

International students sang along to classical verses including Li Bai's "Ascending the Phoenix Terrace in Jinling," the nomadic ballad "Chile Song," and Xin Qiji's "Green Jade Table: Lantern Festival" set to original music by a local composer, with live performances bringing the ancient poetry to life through contemporary melodies.

International students write Qixi-themed characters in oracle bone script, photo by CEN

Participants also tried their hand at writing Qixi-themed characters in oracle bone script, the earliest known form of Chinese characters dating back over 3,000 years. Donning traditional Hanfu attire, they ground ink and brushed characters such as "Qixi", "Cowherd and Weaver Girl", "Joy from Heaven" and "Blossoming Moon". Through each stroke of these ancient scripts, they traced the origins of Chinese civilization and gained a tangible connection to its cultural heritage.

Among them was Urooj Rehmani from Pakistan, who was trying her hand at Oracle Bone Script for the second time. She expressed a deep interest in Chinese history and culture, noting that she regularly learns Chinese songs and recites classical poems in her daily life. Beyond the rhythmic rhymes, she noted, the profound meanings and emotions conveyed through the verses resonate deeply with her. "Through this event, I gain a more direct appreciation of the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture and a more intuitive understanding of the beautiful sentiments behind the Qixi Festival," she said.

The celebration also featured a festive garden fair with artist booths and interactive experiences showcasing intangible cultural heritage crafts. Visitors explored stalls presented by the Nanjing Yunjin (brocade) Museum, intangible heritage velvet flower artisans and other cultural organizations.