(Yicai) Jan. 26 -- Many provinces and cities across China saw a sharp rise in marriage registrations last year, indicating that policies promoting wedlock and childbearing are starting to show results.

The number of couples registering for marriage in Shanghai surged 38.7 percent in 2025 from the year before to 125,102, according to data from the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

While in Fujian province, the number of marriages soared 12 percent over the period to 169,756, according to statistics from the southeastern province's Civil Affairs Department. In the provincial capital of Fuzhou, the number of marriage registrations soared 20.3 percent to 37,887.

China has been vigorously promoting marriage and childbirth at the appropriate ages while building a broader support system for families in recent years. Last year, regional restrictions were removed, making marriage registration much more convenient. Under the revised Regulations on Marriage Registration that took effect on May 10, 2025, couples can now register their marriage anywhere in the country, regardless of their place of permanent residence, and are no longer required to present household registration documents.

Several cities in eastern Jiangsu province also saw a big jump in couples tying the knot last year. Nanjing handled 63,400 marriage registrations, up 18.2 percent from the previous year, Suzhou processed 65,000 marriages, a jump of 33.5 percent, Wuxi recorded 32,122 marriage registrations, a gain of 32.3 percent, while Changzhou reported 23,082 marriages, an increase of 28.5 percent.

Eastern Jiangxi province handled 186,528 marriage registrations last year, a year-on-year jump of 3.4 percent, according to the eastern province’s Department of Civil Affairs. And Shenzhen in southern Guangdong province also posted strong growth, with the number of marriage registrations surging 28.5 percent last year from the year before to 118,900 couples, according to city data.

Some places have even begun to offer couples financial incentives to tie the knot. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, couples who register their first marriage in Lvliang, northern Shanxi province, and where the female is 35 years or younger, are given a reward of CNY1,500 (USD215).

Other places, including Longgui Nanling village in Guangzhou’s Baiyun district and Xinsi Huangtang village in Dongguan’s Hengli town, have rolled out similar incentives. Until recently, cities such as Hangzhou and Ningbo in southeastern Zhejiang province issued consumption vouchers to newlyweds.

Editor: Kim Taylor