Love is in the air as Shanghai kicked off a citywide romantic Lantern Festival event on Tuesday, combining marriage registration, cultural experiences and traditional folk customs to celebrate the festival.
The campaign, organized by the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau in partnership with all 16 district marriage registration offices, was held on March 3, the 15th day of the first lunar month, traditionally a time for reunion and good fortune.
A video bearing blessings recorded by award-winning civil registrars at landmark locations including the Bund, Shanghai Tower, Tian'ai Road and Xingfuli were shown at marriage registration halls across the city.
The East Building of the Shanghai Library presented a traditional wedding culture show highlighting eternal commitment. The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum invited newlyweds to its Year of the Horse exhibition, symbolizing a bright and promising future.
At the Shen'ai Post Office on the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower, the special Lantern Festival love postmark service allowed couples to mail letters to their future selves.
Local districts staged creative folk activities to revitalize traditional culture.
Hongkou launched a "Love Bus" carrying newlyweds on a tour of the North Bund, while Huangpu held wedding ceremonies in historical buildings and displayed a vintage sedan chair symbolizing fertility and lasting marriage.
Jing'an featured coffee-making charity activities, with proceeds donated to the Shanghai Senior Foundation, and Changning linked its marriage registry with the nearby M+ Xingfuli community to extend the festive atmosphere.
Most districts set up riddle-guessing zones featuring traditional culture, marriage knowledge and Shanghai elements. Several marriage registration halls were turned into Lantern Festival garden party venues.
The Pudong New Area displayed intangible cultural heritage fish lanterns, while Xuhui offered dough modeling art.
Minhang served sweet glutinous rice dumplings to newlyweds, and Putuo prepared traditional rubbings workshops. Activities ranged from lantern-making to message walls, expressing warm wishes to every couple.
