Union city blue

[Jurriaan Bendien <bendien@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eastern union

Spurred on by an unravelling of the rules about tying the knot, people in
China are rushing to wed, writes Jonathan Watts

Friday October 3, 2003

If the Chinese media are to be believed, a great deal of jujubes will be
consumed this week. The Chinese dates, along with lotus seeds and peanuts,
are considered lucky dishes at wedding festivities, and there has reportedly
been an explosion of them in the last few days after liberal new marriage
regulations were introduced at the start of the month.
According to the local press, tens of thousands of couples began queuing
outside registration offices throughout the country as early as 5am. Such is
the demand to take vows that the ministry of civil affairs said it had
ordered registration offices to stay open throughout the foundation day
holiday for the first time, and to extend their hours for as long as
prospective brides and grooms were waiting outside their doors.

Behind the rush to wed is new legislation that allows people for the first
time to marry without an intrusive medical check and permission from their
bosses. The new rules, which are in line with the growing relaxation of
controls on economic and physical movement, also allow unhappy couples to
divorce more easily.

Complete article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1055357,00.html