A series of events under the “Love in Shanghai · Sweet Set Sail” theme kicked off yesterday. At the “Sweet Station” in Shanghai’s Jiading District Auto Expo Park, a ceremony for newlyweds’ rights and a “520” group wedding were held under the theme “Putting Sweetness into Practice.” That day, a total of 3,729 couples registered for marriage in Shanghai, of which 1,735 couples, both with non-local household registrations, used the nationwide inter-provincial service, accounting for 46.53%.

One year after the newly revised “Marriage Registration Regulations” took effect, the nationwide inter-provincial service has yielded significant results. Over the past year, among marriage registrations in Shanghai, the nationwide inter-provincial service accounted for 39%. Some couples from other regions traveled specifically to Shanghai to get their marriage certificates, making registering for marriage in Shanghai a trend.

“520” has boosted Shanghai’s sweet economy. From Sweet Love Road to Happiness Road, and from the Bund to Forest Park, an increasing number of iconic city landmarks are becoming marriage registration points and happiness check-in spots, painting a “sweet map” that covers the entire city with unique beauty in each area.

Public Services “Follow People”

Regardless of their household registration, couples can register for marriage at any district in Shanghai with just their ID cards. This reform breaks the 70-year-old restriction based on household registration location, making public services truly “follow people.”

One year after the implementation of the newly revised “Marriage Registration Regulations,” policy benefits have been continuously released. According to statistics, from May 10 last year to May 10 this year, the city handled 177,400 marriage registrations, a year-on-year increase of 23.41%, with the nationwide inter-provincial service accounting for 39%. There were 8,117 cases of remote file retrieval services.

“The data did the legwork for us,” said a 76-year-old Shanghai resident, recalling that his marriage certificate obtained in Xinjiang 50 years ago was long lost. He urgently needed a replacement to process a property transfer. In the past, he would have had to travel thousands of miles to Xinjiang, but now, with his ID card and the remote file retrieval process, he successfully obtained a replacement in Shanghai.

The “first stop upon entry” is also accelerating the pace of cross-border marriage registrations. From May 10 last year to May 10 this year, the city handled more than 2,500 cross-border marriage registrations, a year-on-year increase of 75.16%, with the inter-provincial service accounting for 42.55%. Shanghai has taken three years to gradually delegate the authority for cross-border marriage registration to all 16 districts in the city, precisely meeting international demands. The Jing’an International Reception Hall, located in the Jing’an Temple commercial area, has set up a dedicated counter for cross-border marriage registration, implementing a “full pre-review” of documents and a one-on-one feedback mechanism to ensure applications pass on the first try, saving applicants from multiple trips due to incomplete documents.

Behind the smooth implementation of the nationwide inter-provincial service lies the solid work of the civil affairs system. The city’s marriage registration staff worked tirelessly for three consecutive months to verify marriage archives from 1990 to 2001 item by item; they streamlined file access channels, unblocked the “digital veins” of marriage registration, and promoted the exchange, mutual recognition, and sharing of electronic marriage certificates in the Yangtze River Delta region; they strengthened safety defenses, taking the lead in implementing real-time verification of court divorce data, effectively preventing duplicate and false registrations.

Building a Happy Industry Ecosystem

Shanghai is also using marriage registration as an entry point to link culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions, integrating high-quality resources from the wedding, jewelry, home appliances, and cultural tourism sectors to build a happy industry ecosystem, offering couples discounts and convenience.

On May 20, various districts unveiled new “marriage registration +” scenarios: Minxing held a flower sea group wedding and debuted a joint-branded exclusive marriage certificate with the Minhang Museum; Changning had golden wedding couples serve as “happiness witnesses”; Hongkou featured robot dances alongside a sweet market; Huangpu held a ceremony on the Bund’s romantic terrace to issue replica marriage certificates from the Shanghai History Museum collection; Jing’an inaugurated an outdoor certificate-granting point at Butterfly Bay Fairy Tale Castle…

Each district in Shanghai adapts to local conditions, using the sweet economy as a starting point to create unique romantic IPs.

Changning District moved its marriage registration office to No. 50 Happiness Road, and the pink building quickly became a popular

Jiading District Auto Expo Park

Jiading District Auto Expo Park in Shanghai is a major center for automotive culture and exhibitions, anchored by the Shanghai Auto Museum and the Shanghai International Circuit. The park was developed to showcase China’s automotive history and innovation, with the circuit hosting the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix since 2004. It blends modern motorsports with interactive exhibits, making it a key destination for car enthusiasts and cultural visitors alike.

Bund

The Bund is a famous waterfront area in central Shanghai, China, lined with historic buildings that once housed banks and trading houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally a British settlement during the colonial era, it served as a major financial and commercial hub for foreign powers. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, offering scenic views of the Huangpu River and the modern Pudong skyline across the water.

Forest Park

Forest Park, located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, spanning over 1,300 acres. Established for the 1904 World’s Fair and the concurrent Summer Olympics, it has since become a cultural hub, housing major attractions like the Saint Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, and the Missouri History Museum. Today, it remains a beloved public space for recreation and community events, blending its historic legacy with modern amenities.

Jing’an Temple commercial area

The Jing’an Temple commercial area in Shanghai is a vibrant blend of ancient spirituality and modern commerce, centered around the historic Jing’an Temple, a Buddhist temple first built in 247 AD during the Three Kingdoms period. The temple was relocated to its current site in 1216 under the Song Dynasty, and today the surrounding district is a bustling hub of luxury shopping malls, high-end restaurants, and office towers. This juxtaposition of a serene, centuries-old temple with ultramodern skyscrapers makes the area a unique cultural and economic landmark in the city.

Minhang Museum

The Minhang Museum, located in Shanghai, China, showcases the rich cultural heritage and history of the Minhang district. Originally established in the 1950s, it features exhibits on local folk customs, traditional crafts, and archaeological artifacts, including items from the ancient Majiabang and Liangzhu cultures. The museum serves as an important educational resource, preserving and interpreting the unique identity of the region through its diverse collections.

Shanghai History Museum

The Shanghai History Museum, located at the base of the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, traces the city’s development from a small fishing village to a global metropolis. Originally founded in the 1980s, the museum moved to its current site in Pudong in 2018, showcasing over 11,000 artifacts that highlight Shanghai’s history, culture, and modernization. Its exhibits include ancient pottery, trade relics, and multimedia displays that capture the city’s transformation through the Opium Wars and into the 20th century.

Butterfly Bay Fairy Tale Castle

Butterfly Bay Fairy Tale Castle is a whimsical, privately-owned attraction inspired by classic European fairy tales and fantasy architecture, often featuring colorful turrets, gardens, and butterfly-themed decorations. While not a historic castle, it was built in the early 21st century to evoke a magical, storybook atmosphere for visitors. The site has become a popular destination for photography and family outings, blending imaginative design with natural beauty.

Happiness Road

Happiness Road is a whimsical, tree-lined pedestrian street in Guangzhou, China, known for its cheerful name and vibrant, Instagram-worthy murals and installations. Originally a quiet residential lane, it was transformed into a public art space in recent years, featuring colorful paintings of smiling faces, cartoon characters, and inspiring messages designed to spread joy. The site has become a popular local attraction and a symbol of the city’s creative urban renewal efforts.