Qi Xi, China's Valentine's Day, is suggested to be made official.

7th July in the Lunar calendar is the folk Qi Xi festival, a festival for lovers in China, and one member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference has suggested it be made official.

Li Hanqiu put forward the proposal Wednesday. He said that while western festivals are booming in China, Chinese should do more to promote festivals with Chinese characteristics.

He said Qi Xi festival, with its moving thousand-year old love tale, reflects Chinese culture and spirit. He also suggested making "Que Qiao Xian" ("Immortal at the Magpie Bridge"), a poem written by an ancient poet, the song of the Chinese Valentine's Day.

Qi Xi festival in 2008 is around the eve of Olympic Games, Li said we should make use of this opportunity to invite lovers from around world to spend Valentine's Day in China.

(CRI.com August 11, 2005)