BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- As China's "520" love-themed date continues to draw couples each year, newlyweds are finding added joy in increasingly comprehensive marriage-related policies and public services offered by the government and wider society.
On May 20, a date cherished by Chinese couples because "520" sounds like "I love you" in Mandarin, a marriage registration service center in Beijing's Xicheng District received more than 600 appointments from couples across the country.
It took a couple from north China's Shanxi Province less than five minutes to complete their marriage registration at the center, which has established Beijing's first outdoor marriage registration point in ancient-style buildings. The couple had initially thought they would have to take leave and return to Shanxi to complete the registration.
Xicheng has handled nearly 27,000 marriage registrations since the country's newly revised marriage registration regulations took effect on May 10 last year, marking a year-on-year increase of 24.7 percent. The streamlined, hassle-free registration policy has made cross-region marriage registration more convenient, especially for those working away from their hometowns.
Of the nearly 27,000 registrations, over 8,300 were cross-regional marriages, meaning that roughly one in every three couples are non-Beijing residents, according to Li Junyan, director of the service center.
To meet peak registration demand on the special day, the service center partnered with nearly 60 nearby merchants to offer discounts for newlyweds. It also designed three routes linking popular nearby tourist attractions, extending marriage registration into a romantic city tour.
Aiming to upgrade service scenarios and optimize marriage registration processes, China has set up 525 park-style marriage registration points and 1,330 outdoor venues for the issuance of certificates, transforming registration from a purely administrative procedure into a more romantic, experience-driven occasion.
Data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs shows that China saw 6.76 million marriage registrations in 2025, an increase of 657,000 year on year.
On May 20, Liu Yuan and his wife attended their "first lesson as newlyweds" on post-marriage consumption and family financial management after completing their marriage vows at a marriage registration center in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
In addition to a certificate-issuing hall, the center, which covers about 1,000 square meters, also features a wedding customs museum and a counseling area, offering a range of immersive courses to help newlyweds transition into their new roles.
Dozens of newlyweds received guidance aimed at helping them acquire the "methodology" of managing married life at the center on May 20, said Ma Jia, director of the district's civil affairs bureau.
China has 4,747 marriage and family counseling institutions and 18,000 counselors. In 2025, these services reached more than 3.46 million people.
In addition, a series of reforms has been rolled out in Jiangsu, Henan, Anhui and other provinces aimed at curbing unhealthy wedding customs, including excessive betrothal gifts and extravagant, wasteful practices.
"We have incorporated affordable marriage payments and simplified wedding ceremonies into village regulations and conventions. We have also provided wedding venues to newlyweds free of charge," said Xie Xiaojun, head of Daciyan Town in east China's Zhejiang Province.
Xie added that now a single banquet can save locals 20,000 yuan (about 2,928 U.S. dollars) to 30,000 yuan, and the cost of weddings has dropped by about 30 percent.
Statistics show that 2,080 pilot and demonstration units for wedding customs reform have been designated nationwide, and 2,045 venues showcasing wedding customs culture have been established to date. ■
