Shenzhen News August 30, 2025 On the 29th, coinciding with the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day), marriage registration offices across Shenzhen districts experienced a peak in marriage registrations. According to statistics, as of 6:00 PM that day, a total of 1,805 couples completed marriage registration citywide.

“It was so hard to get an appointment for Qixi! What should we do if we didn’t manage to book a slot? It’s such a pity to miss such a special day.” The day before Qixi, Ms. Xu posted a plea for help on her social media. She and her boyfriend had planned to register their marriage on Qixi but realized during booking that all slots for the day had been taken. Anxiously, she sought help from various sources. After friends shared some useful information, she learned that same-day on-site registration was available at marriage registration offices across Shenzhen’s districts. So on Qixi, she and her boyfriend arrived early to queue and succeeded in obtaining their marriage certificate that day.

Also choosing to register their marriage on Qixi were Huang Sibei and her boyfriend Ou Yuhui. On the morning of August 29, Huang Sibei sat in the marriage registration hall of the Longgang District Civil Affairs Bureau, clutching their “love number ticket,” feeling both nervous and excited as they waited for their number to be called.

“We planned to register today several years ago,” Huang Sibei said. She and her boyfriend were both born on August 29, 1995. So, they planned to register on their solar calendar birthday, making this special day even more meaningful. When they checked the calendar, they found that August 29, 2025, coincided with Qixi, adding another layer of romantic significance. Thus, they decided to register on that day—marking Qixi, their 30th birthday, and their wedding anniversary all at once.

Not being Shenzhen locals, the couple originally planned to register in their hometown in Guangxi. “We were very lucky to benefit from the ‘nationwide marriage registration’ policy, which saved us from traveling back and forth,” Huang Sibei said. The registration process was faster than she expected. After a “lightning-fast” registration, they had more time to take photos at the beautifully decorated marriage registration office.

On Qixi, the Longgang District Civil Affairs Bureau marriage registration office was filled with a sweet atmosphere. Various romantic decorations created a full sense of ambiance, and there were sweet gift bags for everyone, along with a group certification ceremony where couples recited romantic vows… “Registering used to feel like handling official business, but now it feels like celebrating a festival!” said Mr. Liu, who also registered on Qixi. He excitedly pinned a “double happiness” brooch, gifted by the registration office, on his wife, and captured their happiness in front of the “most beautiful photo wall.”

More to Know

Aside from Longgang District, other districts in Shenzhen also launched sweet activities to provide couples with a “highly customized” registration experience.

Futian District: Partnered with KFC to launch a special Qixi event, “Sweet Happiness Market, KFC Has Joy,” at Happy Coast. In a “flowing feast” style popular among young people, they held a certification ceremony for 10 couples, gifting brides dresses and veils, grooms bow ties and bouquets, and ¥500 KFC gift cards.

Nanshan District: Inspired by the classic tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, created diverse photo scenes ranging from ancient style to cyberpunk, offering couples a sweet journey through time.

Bao’an District: Held a collective wedding ceremony on a cruise at Shenzhen Airport Terminal, arranged photo opportunities at the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link and travel photography, offered a “Happy Marriage at Sea” class, and distributed sweet Qixi gift packs.

Guangming District: At the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum (Guangming), launched “Stellar Promise · Love Witnessed by the Universe”—a collective wedding certification ceremony for builders of the Guangming Science City. Robots served as witnesses, and couples took cyberpunk-style wedding photos.

Dapeng New District: Held a “Vows by the Mountains and Sea

Qixi Festival

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, is a traditional holiday celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. Its origins stem from the ancient folk tale of the cowherd (Niulang) and the weaver girl (Zhinü), two lovers separated by the Milky Way who are allowed to reunite just once a year on this day. The festival celebrates romantic love and often involves customs where young women pray for skillful hands in weaving and finding a good husband.

Longgang District Civil Affairs Bureau

The Longgang District Civil Affairs Bureau is a modern government administrative office in Shenzhen, China, responsible for providing civil services to the district’s residents. It was established as part of the governmental structure following the formal creation of Longgang District in 1993, which accompanied the rapid urbanization and development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Futian District

Futian District is the central urban district of Shenzhen, China, which was established in 1990 as part of the city’s rapid expansion following its designation as a Special Economic Zone. It is now the city’s central business district, home to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and a famous modern skyline.

Happy Coast

“Happy Coast” is not a widely recognized historical or cultural site. The term is likely a modern, informal name for a pleasant coastal area or a specific local beach destination. Without a specific, documented location, it does not have a verifiable history to summarize.

Nanshan District

Nanshan District is a major commercial and technological hub in Shenzhen, China, known for housing the headquarters of numerous tech giants like Tencent. Historically, it was a rural area but underwent rapid urbanization and development after Shenzhen was designated as China’s first Special Economic Zone in 1980.

Bao’an District

Bao’an District is a major administrative area of Shenzhen, China, with a history dating back over 1,600 years to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was historically a key coastal defense area and the original name for what later became the city of Shenzhen. Today, it is a modern urban center known for its advanced manufacturing, bustling ports, and as the location of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is a massive cross-sea passage in China’s Guangdong province, officially opened in 2024 after seven years of construction. It is an integrated transport system featuring two bridges, two artificial islands, and the world’s longest and widest steel-shell concrete immersed tube tunnel, significantly cutting travel time between the two major economic zones.

Guangming District

Guangming District is a suburban district of Shenzhen, China, established in September 2007. It was carved out of the larger Bao’an District as part of Shenzhen’s urban expansion plan to develop its northwestern areas. The district is now a significant hub for high-tech industries and scientific research.