A historic mass wedding took place across China, backed by local authorities. This unprecedented event occurred simultaneously in 50 regions and included a total of 5,000 couples.
According to reports from the Global Times and other state media on Monday, the event was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the All-China Women’s Federation. It marks the largest mass wedding since the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949.
The mass weddings occurred in various locations, including major cities like Beijing, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Dressed in beautiful traditional Chinese attire, couples recited their vows, embracing a commitment to simplifying the wedding process and avoiding costly dowries. This initiative reflects many young people’s financial pressures when planning weddings in China.
In the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 300 couples tied the knot, setting the record for the highest number of weddings in any single region.
This event was part of a broader initiative to alleviate the economic burdens that deter young people from marrying and starting families.
China is grappling with significant social issues, including low birth rates and an aging population. The government is implementing various measures to encourage marriage and childbirth.
Chinese demographic expert He Yafu commented, “The sharp decline in marriage rates in recent years is primarily due to excessively high wedding costs,” noting that this mass wedding represents a vital step in addressing this pressing issue.
Statistics show a concerning decline in marriage rates and the number of newborns in China. The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that newborns fell below 10 million in both 2022 and 2023, further accelerating the trend of population decline. In the first half of 2024, approximately 3.43 million marriage registrations were recorded, down by about 500,000 compared to last year.
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