In China, May 20 and 21 have emerged as the busiest days for marriage registrations ever since the launch of a new nationwide marriage registration policy.
These two dates have gained immense popularity among couples eager to tie the knot because the numbers “520” and “521” phonetically resemble “I love you” in Chinese, making them highly symbolic “days of love.”
However, many netizens have vented their frustration online about their inability to secure appointments due to the overwhelming demand. One user on Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media platform, shared, “I waited for two hours but still couldn’t get a slot.” Others mentioned that even making reservations a month in advance wasn’t enough.
“The registry office has gone all out by creating special decorations for this peak marriage registration period,” said a soon-to-be bride. “This is the ideal time for my fiancé and me to obtain our marriage certificate. It’s incredibly romantic and will surely become a cherished memory forever.”
To handle the high demand, Li, a representative from the marriage registration service center of the Civil Affairs Bureau in Beijing’s Dongcheng District, revealed that couples who fail to secure an online appointment but meet the requirements will still be able to register after those with prior appointments.
Civil affairs bureaus across many regions, including several cities in Jiangsu Province in East China, have also taken proactive measures. According to a local media outlet in Jiangsu, staff members adjusted their working hours in advance to accommodate the surge in marriage registrations.
When it came to the actual registration process, one bride shared her experience. “All I had to do was submit my ID, my husband’s ID, three red-background photos, and sign some paperwork. The entire process was highly efficient and was completed in approximately 10 minutes.”
In addition, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday that couples can now obtain electronic marriage certificates through China’s national integrated online government service platform. These electronic certificates are already being utilized in various scenarios, such as household registration, real estate registration, housing loan applications, and home purchase eligibility reviews.
China’s revised marriage registration regulations took effect on May 10. As reported previously, these new regulations simplified the marriage registration process and allowed couples to register anywhere in the country, regardless of their hukou (household registration) locations.
The simplification of the marriage registration process has led to a significant increase in the number of couples getting married. According to The Paper on Tuesday, civil affairs departments in Shanghai have witnessed a surge in appointments from couples across the country following the implementation of the new nationwide policy.
