The “2026 Qixi Festival Summer Experience in San Kio” is being held in San Kio Garden through August 31, combining traditional Chinese culture, cultural creativity and business promotions to attract residents and visitors to the old district.
Organised by the San Kio District Residents Mutual Aid Association, the 17-day event runs from last Saturday to August 31.
The event has expanded its business district participation this year, according to a recent statement by the organisers, with more than 100 food, retail, creative and local service shops taking part. The event also features 24 specialised craft workshops, offering activities such as accessory weaving, floral arts, hand-painted crafts, and portrait drawing, the statement said.
Promotions include buy-one-get-one-free tickets at Teatro Alegria and instant merchant discounts, while the event mini-programme has been enhanced with online games and promotional content, the statement said, adding that offline check-in rewards are also available to encourage visitors to explore participating shops.
San Kio Garden serves as the main venue, hosting workshops, cultural performances and interactive activities in a one-stop festival setting. The Qixi* Fair and stalls operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, providing an additional weekend attraction for residents and tourists.
The “Aroma & Tea Tasting” Qixi Gathering (“「聞香品茗」七夕雅集”) also features regular weekend sessions, alongside special events that featured “Traditional Night” (“傳統之夜”) on Tuesday and “San Kio Appointment” (“新橋之約”) yesterday.
Three major themed activities form the highlights of the programme. “Traditional Night” on Tuesday featured Moon-worship rituals, Qixi craft competitions, folk customs, and qipao** showcases.
Meanwhile, “San Kio Appointment” yesterday included calligraphy and painting sessions, orchid lectures and arts workshops highlighting the district’s cultural heritage.
On August 30, “Qixi Fate Orienteering” (“七夕良緣定向活動”) will guide participants through street-level challenges and puzzles while exploring the history and character of San Kio’s old district.
Speaking to the Post yesterday, the festival coordinator Celia Fong (馮麗芬) said that yesterday’s theme drew inspiration from San Kio’s local Qixi traditions and the distinctive community heritage of the old district. She said that the festival, which has been held since 2014, aims to preserve and pass on San Kio’s cultural traditions while using its popularity to “drive consumption among local businesses, strengthen neighbourhood ties and establish a tourism and cultural identity unique to San Kio.”
Fong also said that the event also responds to the government’s efforts to revitalise business districts and promote urban renewal, with the organisers hoping to integrate community tourism and cultural activities to breathe new life into the old district, adding that residents and visitors can experience Qixi traditions through workshops, markets and cultural performances, while also exploring the shops and streets of San Kio to experience the district’s distinctive community atmosphere and support the long-term development of its business district.
Looking ahead, the organisers hope the event will help make traditional festivals a lasting part of community life, while continuing to bring visitors to local businesses, support small shops and strengthen residents’ sense of belonging, Fong said, adding that the event’s themed parade last night invited adults and children to dress in traditional Chinese attire and walk through San Kio’s streets and alleys, stopping at designated landmarks for photo opportunities and bringing greater exposure and foot traffic to shops while allowing participants to experience the Qixi atmosphere and community character of the old district.
*Qixi (七夕) literally means “Seventh Night”. It is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Widely known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, it celebrates a famous ancient folktale about true love, separated stars, and traditional crafts. Its date changes annually on the Western (Gregorian) calendar. – Gemini
**The qipao (also known as cheongsam) is a sleek, form-fitting Chinese dress originating from 1920s Shanghai. It features a high mandarin collar, an asymmetrical side closure with decorative frog buttons (knotted fasteners), and a figure-hugging silhouette with a high side slit. – DeepSeek
Photos taken yesterday at San Kio Garden by Khalel Vallo
Artists paint during yesterday’s “2026 Qixi Festival Summer Experience in San Kio” at San Kio Garden.
Participants in traditional garb pose for a group photo during last night’s festival at San Kio Garden.
A Chinese ensemble performs during last night’s festival at San Kio Garden.
Participants take part in a parade headed by the event’s mascot near San Kio Garden last night.
