Chinese Valentine’s Day // How Many Are There and When Is Chinese Valentine’s Day?

For some of us, dealing with just one Valentine’s Day is enough.

If you’re in that camp, count yourself lucky you’re not celebrating Valentine’s Day in China.

Or rather, days…

Beyond the familiar scenes of red roses and chocolates on the 14th of February, China has a whole host of other days throughout the year to celebrate 爱情 (àiqíng): love.

In total, there are around 6 Chinese Valentine’s Days.

The exact number depends on who you ask. Traditional lists count ancient festivals like Qixi and the Lantern Festival, while modern lists add imported and internet-born dates such as 14th February, White Day and 520. If someone just says “Chinese Valentine’s Day”, they almost always mean Qixi.

That’s a lot of chances to disappoint your significant other 👀

But fear not, we’re going to give you a need-to-know breakdown of each one and tell you exactly when each Chinese Valentine’s Day is.

Let’s dive into the complex world of Chinese Valentine’s Days!

Chinese Valentine’s Day #1 – [14/2] Valentine’s Day

Chinese Valentine’s Day #2 – [14/3] White Valentine’s Day

Chinese Valentine’s Day #3 – [20/5] 520, I Love You Day

Chinese Valentine’s Day #4 – [7th Day of the 7th Lunar Month] Qi Xi Festival

Chinese Valentine’s Day #5 – [15th Day of the 1st Lunar Month] Lantern Festival

Chinese Valentine’s Day #6 – [11/11] Single’s Day

Chinese Valentine’s Day #1 – [14/2] Valentine’s Day

情人节 – qíngrén jié

The 14th February, like in the West, now marks one of China’s many Valentine’s Days.

Originally a Western import, it has been celebrated in Chinese cities for decades and is especially popular with younger generations.

Much like in the West on this day, you can expect couples to spend time together by going to the cinema or for romantic dinners.

It is also common to buy chocolate and roses for your loved ones – the pricier the better!

On this Chinese festival, make sure to spend it with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Chinese Valentine’s Day #2 – [14/3] White Valentine’s Day

白色情人节 – báisè qíngrén jié

White Day is a festival celebrated in many East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea.

👉 In these countries, it is often the women who buy gifts on Valentine’s Day and the men reciprocate the gifts on White Day.

In China, it’s celebrated more sporadically and participation varies city to city. Some people celebrate it every year, whilst in some areas you might only see a few supermarket promotions around or not hear about it at all.

White Day falls exactly one month after Valentine’s day on the 14th February.

Whilst on Valentine’s Day, any kind of romantic gift may be given (think roses, jewelry, teddy bears), White Day is all about one kind of gift: chocolate.

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Chinese Valentine’s Day #3 – [20/5] 520, I Love You Day

520 Day (20th May) grew out of Chinese netizens’ slang culture and has since become a fixture of the romantic calendar, with shops and apps marking it every year.

DID YOU KNOW – It came about because 520 (pronounced as ‘wǔ èr líng’) sounds like the Chinese for “I love you”, 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ). Want more ways to say it? Here’s our guide to saying I love you in Chinese.

To some of us, 520 sounds barely anything like “I love you”. But hey, any excuse to celebrate love (and for companies to make cash).

This day is spent much like 14th February, and it’s most popular with younger couples, from students to young professionals.

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Chinese Valentine’s Day #4 – [7th Day of the 7th Lunar Month] Qi Xi Festival

七夕节 – qīxì jié

七夕节 (qīxì jié, said roughly “chee-shee jyeh”) literally means “Evening of Sevens”, which is why you’ll also hear it called the Double Seventh Festival. It has been celebrated for over 2,000 years, with roots in the Han dynasty.

The festival comes from the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Zhinü, the Weaver Girl, was a goddess who wove the clouds in heaven. She fell in love with Niulang, a humble mortal cowherd, and the two married and had children.

When the Queen Mother of Heaven found out, she drew a river of stars across the sky, the Milky Way, to keep them apart. Once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, flocks of magpies form a bridge across it so the couple can meet. On a clear night you can spot them as the stars Vega (Zhinü) and Altair (Niulang).

💡 TIP: these are the words you’ll hear again and again around Qixi.

For the full story and more customs, read our guide to the Qixi Festival legend and traditions.

Qixi is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, so the Western date changes every year, usually landing between late July and late August.

Just like Western Valentine’s day, on this Chinese Valentine’s Day you can expect to get gifts or go for a meal with your companion.

Otherwise, you could spend it eating typical foods such as 油饭 (yóufàn), 麻油鸡酒 (máyóujījiǔ) and 软粿 (ruǎn guǒ).

DATES

8th August 2027

26th August 2028

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Chinese Valentine’s Day #5 – [15th Day of the 1st Lunar Month] Lantern Festival

元宵节 – yuánxiāo jié

The Lantern Festival is held on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month. It’s the first full moon of the year, and it marks the end of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) celebrations.

The Lantern Festival is seen as a Chinese Valentine’s Day.

One reason is that in imperial times, young women were rarely allowed to leave the house.

Going out to go and light the lanterns during this festival was a rare occasion when women could go on dates and find a partner. 

It is typical on this day to eat 汤圆 (tāngyuán), also called 元宵 (yuánxiāo), sweet glutinous rice balls filled with peanut or sesame paste.

DATES

20th February 2027

9th February 2028

BONUS: the Shangsi Festival (上巳节, shàngsì jié)

If you want a truly ancient seventh contender, meet the Shangsi Festival, held on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. In ancient China, people gathered by rivers in spring to wash away bad luck, and it was one of the few times young men and women could meet and court in public.

It faded from everyday life centuries ago, which is why most modern lists leave it out. You’ll still see it pop up in some lists of traditional Chinese Valentine’s Days, and among fans of traditional culture.

Chinese Valentine’s Day #6 – [11/11] Single’s Day

双十一 – shuāng shíyī

With 5 Valentine’s Days in China, what’s a single girl to do?

Do not fear singles!

China has been celebrating Single’s Day since the 1990s. It started as a day to celebrate being single, but today it’s mostly a celebration of shopping.

The story goes that this date was originally celebrated by students in Nanjing university who wanted to celebrate being single.

DID YOU KNOW – The dates 11/11 were chosen for having two double lines representing being single.

Giants Alibaba then took over the day to turn it into a Black Friday/Cyber Monday style day of crazy shopping.

Chinese people will save for months in order to buy their wanted items as soon as the date comes around.

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Chinese Valentine’s Day || FAQs

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