Love blossoms again where legend began

Seventy-seven couples from across the country participated in a group wedding featuring traditional Chinese customs in Yunxi county of Shiyan, Hubei province, on Wednesday, as part of the Qixi Festival, which is widely considered to be China's Valentine's Day.

Wearing traditional Chinese attire, they followed ancient procedures such as the three-bow ritual to give thanks to heaven and earth, show gratitude to their parents and pledge lifelong commitment to one another.

During the hair-tying ceremony, the newlyweds placed strands of their hair into a grain-filled sachet, symbolizing lifelong unity under the old saying "bound by youthful hair, they shall stay together until their hair turns white". At the alcohol-sharing ritual, the couples vowed to stand by each other through thick and thin.