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Zoey Zhang

A nightclub in eastern China has teamed up with local authorities to offer a marriage registration service, with electronic music festival tickets as a special gift.
The Huangpu district civil affairs bureau in Shanghai has partnered with the nightclub INS Land to offer marriage registration and appointment services during two weekends starting on November 14.
Nestled in a century-old park in Shanghai, INS Land covers 20,000 square metres and fuses esports, music and art performances.
It has become a hotspot for young people since it opened in June 2023.

According to mainland media Jiupai News, couples can reserve their spot through INS Land or the government’s social media channels.
Staff from the local marriage registration centre will be on-site to help.
Successful couples will have a chance to win tickets to an electronic music festival, valued at 888 yuan (US$125).
The service reportedly caters to two types of couples.
The first is couples who have already registered their marriage and can hold the certification ceremony at the nightclub.
The second is those planning to marry later this year. They can book a registration appointment at the nightclub. Afterwards, they must visit the local registry office to finalise the process.

In China, only marriages registered at the civil affairs bureau are legally valid.
INS Land said couples will be guided by a dedicated concierge upon arrival and receive a custom-designed marriage certificate during a visual and musical performance.
They can also celebrate afterwards with family and friends in a reserved booth area.
The local government said that the policy aims to promote marriage customs reform and boost the local night economy.
The service quickly made headlines on mainland social media, but reactions were mixed.
One supporter said: “Nightclubs are a romantic space for young people. I hope my important life moments can be as special and fun as this.”
However, another person expressed concern: “This approach turns marriage into entertainment, overlooking the responsibility and solemnity it should carry.”
While a third person said: “It is clear how worried the government is about the declining marriage rate.”

Official data shows that only 6.1 million couples tied the knot in China in 2024, down 20.5 per cent from the previous year.
In response, the authorities have ramped up efforts to encourage marriage and childbirth at the right age.
In October, the government in Ningbo, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province issued 1,000 yuan (US$140) marriage consumption vouchers per couple to newlyweds who recently registered their marriage in the city.
Meanwhile, a marriage school established last year in the southern China’s Hunan province allows unmarried visitors to try their hand at married life and parenting, including nappy-changing.


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As number of couples tying the knot drops, entertainment venue bids to remedy situation by offering gifts, family celebration booths


As number of couples tying the knot drops, entertainment venue bids to remedy situation by offering gifts, family celebration booths.


China nightclub offers marriage registration with authorities in effort to boost nuptials

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}As number of couples tying the knot drops, entertainment venue bids to remedy situation by offering gifts, family celebration booths

As number of couples tying the knot drops, entertainment venue bids to remedy situation by offering gifts, family celebration booths