Chinese Couple in Their 80s Marry College Sweethearts After Decades Apart

A Chinese couple in their 80s who once were college sweethearts has become a hot topic on Chinese social media by reuniting and marrying after decades of separation. Photo=SCMP capture

An 80s Chinese man has made headlines after reuniting and marrying his college sweetheart, a fellow Peking University alum, after decades apart. After their wedding was shared on the online community, netizens sent heartfelt congratulatory messages and showed significant attention.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), on May 2, Zhou Guilin, originally from Yiyang City in Hunan province, central China, married his first love, a woman five years younger than him, on April 14. The couple’s sincere love for each other was evident at the ceremony, which quickly spread on mainland social media and drew significant interest.

Zhou, who turns 86 this year, studied law at Peking University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions. Later, he founded Gaoping Middle School in his hometown, serving as its first principal, and dedicated his life to education.

The 81-year-old bride, Yang Xiugui, also graduated from Peking University. The pair were romantically involved at the university but parted ways and lived separate lives for many years.

According to teachers working at Zhou’s school, both had families and were married. They tied the knot only after their respective spouses passed away.

Having reconnected after so long, the couple found renewed vigor in life and decided to spend their remaining years together, formalizing their union through a wedding ceremony.

Videos posted online show a simple yet meaningful wedding adorned with sentimental items. Messages such as “For sixty years, like swallows parting ways, no brocade book could capture the depth of our yearning. A century of sincere hopes, and now by the red candlelight, we inscribe our first love anew.” were written throughout the venue.

Throughout the festive period of the wedding, the bride joyfully danced, sang, and played the drum, creating a lively atmosphere.

A friend of the couple, Chen, said, “There were about three wedding tables, and only close friends and relatives attended. By traditional Chinese standards, it was a small reception.”

The story has resonated deeply with many as it spread online. Netizens interpreted the couple’s reunion as a blessing of eternal love.