Trendy gifts, places to celebrate Qixi Festival

Qixi, or the Chinese Valentine's Day, will soon arrive, whether you're ready or not.

According to a report by Meituan, a Yelp-like Chinese online city guide, the domestic consumption index on romantic products or services during last year's Qixi surpassed that of Valentine's Day on Feb 14 by a stunning 136 percent.

While some feel increasingly thrilled as the day approaches, others may be in a hurry to seek that ideal gift or place to make it special.

But don't panic. Big data will help you keep up with the trends and find your own way to celebrate.

What to send on Qixi

1. Flowers

Flowers are one of the most fitting ways to mark Qixi.

Statistics show that Beijing saw the largest number of flower orders during last year's Qixi Festival, followed by Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chongqing.

A man from Dongguan even spent an astonishing 79,999 yuan ($11,340) for 9,999 roses.

Many young lovers tend to follow suit and choose products that have gone viral on the internet.

For instance, during last year's Qixi Festival, orders for preserved fresh flowers, which symbolize everlasting love, surged a dramatic 989 percent compared to the average daily volume.

2. WeChat red envelopes

Using your WeChat to send cash-loaded red envelopes, or hongbao, is also a good way to show your love and care to that special someone.

Many young Chinese would prefer to add a particular amount of money to the hongbao, such as 52.0 and 131.4 (or 5.20 and 13.14, if your pocket is a bit tight) which sound like "wo ai ni(I love you)" or "yi sheng yi shi(a lifetime forever)" in Chinese.

3. Other options

If you're purchasing for her, remember that women never have enough clothing, handbags and cosmetics, making them all great choices for gifts.

A lipstick in a dream color or DIY gifts will surely make your beloved swoon.

Consider books that suit the taste of your princess, or a kitten or puppy, which would come as a huge surprise for women who love animals.

Meanwhile, if you're buying for him, wallets, belts, ties and electric shavers always offer good options for presents.

Or, if you're the creative type, consider preparing something yourself, such as a candlelight dinner or a photo album full of sweet memories from the past.