A couple pose for a photo after receiving their marriage certificates at the registration office in Xinghua, Taizhou City, May 20, 2024. (CFP Photo)

In Jiangsu Province, a total of 11,352 couples registered their marriages on May 20, widely celebrated as a day of romance since the date is phonetically similar to "I love you" in Chinese.

This year, the day coincided with the start of Xiaoman, or Grain Buds, the 8th solar term of a year, adding a special Chinese heritage to the celebration.

Photo taken on May 20, 2024 shows bouquets, mainly roses, being prepared at a stall in the Hanzhong Gate flower market in Nanjing City. (Song Ning/Xinhua Daily)

On this day in 2023, which fell on a Saturday, marriage registration authorities extended their hours to accommodate couples eager for a lucky date. In Lianyungang City alone, more than 700 couples completed their marriage registration.

Photo taken on May 20, 2024 shows a young couple experiences a traditional wedding ceremony at a marriage registration station in Nanjing City. (Fan Junyan/Xinhua Daily)

This year, authorities improved their services and there was also an increase of non-profit collective wedding ceremonies. Jiangsu’s civil affairs departments have established 65 outdoor bases to issue certificate, 15 marriage registration stations featuring wedding culture halls, and 13 urban blocks designated for wedding services and culture.