A Qiqiao art-themed skill training course was recently carried out by the Tianhe district bureau of human resources and social security and Guangzhou Light Industry School to coincide with the launch of the 2022 Guangzhou Qiqiao Cultural Festival, which kicked off in the district on July 31.

The Qiqiao Festival (Begging for Skills Festival), also known as Qixi Festival, is considered Chinese Valentine's Day. It originated in the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220), and a whole host of related customs have gradually taken shape since then.

More than 70 unemployed people took part in the course where they learned about Qiqiao culture and were guided by teachers on how to decorate a round silk fan. The course aimed to cultivate people's interest in the art of Qiqiao and stimulate their enthusiasm to participate in activities related to intangible cultural heritage items.

A Qiqiao art-themed skill training course is carried out in Tianhe district. [Photo/Southern Metropolis Daily]

Since the beginning of this year, Tianhe has carried out various skill training courses for 5,715 people and offered 5.47 million yuan ($810,000) in subsidies.