Love Bridge, inspired by a famous Chinese legend, will be a highlight of Suzhou Ballet's European tour in September, featuring excerpts from the production. By blending Western ballet with Chinese storytelling, the piece aims to bridge cultures and captivate both local and international audiences. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The tale of the humble cowherd, Niulang, and celestial being, Zhi'nyu, is one of China's most cherished and enduring legends. They are separated by the vastness of the Milky Way, except for when they're reunited once a year by a bridge formed from the wings of magpies.

This myth is deeply integrated with Qixi Festival, often called China's Valentine's Day.

Now, it finds a new life through the graceful steps of Love Bridge, an original production by the Suzhou Ballet, which premiered in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Aug 29 — this year's Qixi Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar.