Marriage registration offices in multiple regions across China have announced plans to extend their working hours to accommodate newlyweds on May 20, which is considered an auspicious date for love and relationships. Experts said that the move is commendable and should be promoted to include more similar festivals, such as the Qixi Festival, which is also referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day, to meet people's needs for registration and to foster a marriage-friendly society.
Many couples choose to register for marriage certificates on the day of "520" due to the homophonic sound of "I love you" in Chinese. As this day approaches, some netizens have found that marriage registration appointments have been made in advance, with some offices already full. Some registration offices said they will also open on-site registration queues and work overtime to accommodate the demand of couples, allowing more couples to tie the knot.
Newlyweds can go to the marriage registration offices to make an appointment for the registration process, said the Civil Affairs Bureau of Shenzhen, in South China's Guangdong Province. They will also introduce multiple measures to create a romantic and warm atmosphere for marriage registration ceremonies, including decorating the registration areas and organizing interactive activities for couples on May 20.
