An exhibition is held at the Fifth China (Xihe) Qiqiao Cultural Summit Forum, August 7, 2013. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The Fifth China (Xihe) Qiqiao Cultural Summit Forum took place in Beijing on Wednesday and discussed China's Qiqiao Festival, also called Girls' Festival, and its assets in cultural protection and development.

Qiqiao, an ancient cultural event hailing from Gansu province's Longnan region in central China, is one of the most legendary traditional Chinese celebrations because of its spatiotemporal power and profound folk culture connotation. Qiqiao is a festival for girls to honor the goddess of Queen of Skills, entertain themselves and exchange life skills. The festival can be considered an accumulation of heavy aesthetic psychology and traditional Chinese virtues, similar to the worship of Athena in ancient Greece.

Sun Xuetao, secretary of the Longnan city Party committee, said in his opening speech that the summit is a positive response to the UN Women's advocacy for gender equality and the empowerment of women, the Chinese government's promotion of female causes, the construction of cultural heritage and innovation, as well as the protection of intangible cultural heritage.