Day to remember as couples tie the knot

（China Daily） 08:10, December 13, 2012

A young couple show their marriage certificates at a civil affairs bureau in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 12, 2012. Young couples across the country rushed to get married on Dec, 12, 2012, or 12/12/12, hoping that the "triple 12 day" will bring them good luck. In Chinese, the number 12 is pronounced like "Yao Ai", meaning "To Love" in English. (Xinhua/Hang Xingwei)

Lovebirds across China and beyond rushed to tie the knot on Wednesday - 12/12/12 - seeking an extra dose of luck on the last symmetrical date for nearly 100 years.

Bumper numbers were reported at registry offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, causing lengthy lines and extra stress for staff members.

"We got here at about 10 in the morning and were No 960 on the list," said Fan Zhijuan, as she waited with her fiance at the office in Beijing's Haidian district.

After more than three hours, they still had over 100 couples ahead of them.

An added attraction was that the date when said in Chinese sounds like "will love, will love, will love".

Fan, however, said she had chosen the special day for practical as well as romantic reasons. "It's an easy anniversary date to remember". Two of her college friends also decided to tie the knot.

"After we're done, we're going to a restaurant to celebrate," she said.