When bank clerk Ren Yingxiao was looking for a honeymoon destination with her partner, they came across a scenic spot in the Xinjiang region that had it all – including a marriage registration office.

“So we thought, why not go there and get our marriage certificate as well?” the 30-year-old said about secluded Sayram Lake, where authorities are trying to attract young Chinese to tie the knot as part of a nationwide push to boost marriage rates and ease the country’s demographic crisis.

In May, China started allowing couples to get married anywhere in the country – instead of their place of residence – making the process more convenient and the event more special.

Local governments have since started to scramble for marriage tourists, setting up registration offices around scenic spots,

See Full Page