Children at a summer daycare center in Rongcheng, Shandong province, make traditional pastries on Tuesday. [Photo by Li Xinjun/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Children at a summer daycare center in Rongcheng, Shandong province, have been learning to make qiaohua, a traditional pastry prepared for the Qixi Festival, often referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day.

The pastry has long been associated with the coastal Jiaodong region, where making and sharing qiaohua is a custom marking the festival. Parents said the activity not only introduced children to the flavors of the season but also offered a hands-on lesson in traditional craftsmanship and the cultural heritage of Qixi.