SHENZHEN once again reported the highest number of newly registered marriages among cities in Guangdong Province last year, according to official data from the city’s civil affairs authorities.

A total of 118,900 couples tied the knot in 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 28.54%.

May 20 (known as “520,” a homophone for “I love you” in Chinese) remained the most popular day for marriage registrations, with 2,418 couples registering — a 30.63% rise from the previous year. This was followed by the Double Seventh Festival, or Chinese Valentine’s Day, with 1,819 couples marrying, and Feb. 14, with 988.

The increase in marriages aligns with Shenzhen’s demographic profile, where 79.5% of the population is between 15 and 59 years old, and the average age is 32.5.

The city’s thriving high-tech sector, vibrant startup ecosystem, and abundant job opportunities continue to attract young people. For three consecutive years, Shenzhen has ranked top among Chinese cities on Zhaopin.com’s list of most attractive destinations for jobseekers born after 1995.

Many young residents also appreciate the city’s pragmatic approach to weddings. “No one asks about the bride gift money or your wedding budget,” said a young man who participated in a group wedding ceremony in Nanshan District. “My wife and I prefer to invest our money in more meaningful pursuits rather than spending extravagantly on banquets.”

Marriage registration services in Shenzhen are accessible across all districts. Residents with a local residency card — not necessarily a hukou (permanent household registration) — can register with their ID card and household certificate.

Couples can book their marriage registration appointments online. On particularly auspicious dates, civil affairs offices extend working hours and open additional windows to handle the increased demand.

To encourage more couples to marry, Shenzhen launched a month-long campaign from mid-May to mid-June last year, offering unique wedding experiences such as yacht ceremonies and helicopter vow exchanges.

During this period, 17,000 couples got married — a 56% increase from the previous year — helping to drive retail sales and cultural tourism spending to over 8 billion yuan (approximately US$1.12 billion). (Li Dan)