Wedding Bells

As the Summer Games kick start, Wedding bells can be heard throughout Beijing on 8th August.

As the 2008 Beijing Summer Games are coming near, a rush of a different kind has gripped the people of China. Wedding Bells could be heard throughout the city as many couples are queuing up to marry on 8th August, the Opening Day of the Summer Games.

Eight is pronounced as ‘ba’ in Chinese, which means wealth and fortune. As August is the eighth month of the year, the day is considered even more auspicious. According to statistics, around 3,900 couples had tied the knot last year on the very day.

There were initial reports that the marriage registration offices might be closed due to the Summer Games. However, the spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, Mr Guo Xusheng, refuted those reports as rumors. He also added that they were expecting a stampede of newly-weds on that day. Mr Xusheng also advised couples to make online reservations in advance.

In order to capitalize on this rush, a large number of hotels and restaurants are offering menus for the reception.

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Games will start at 8:00 PM. However, some of the events will already start before the opening ceremony.