Thousands of strangers attend wedding of Chinese man in Yunnan
Xu Chenghong invited people online after fearing his wedding would be empty due to a lack of relatives.
More than 10,000 people attended the wedding of 24-year-old Xu Chenghong in Yiliang county, Yunnan province, on October 31, according to the Times of India. The large gathering followed an open invitation Xu posted on the short-video platform Douyin to ensure his wedding felt like a proper celebration.
Xu, who had saved 167,500 yuan for the event, expressed concern that his wedding would be small because he had few relatives. His father died when he was three, his mother remarried, and his grandmother, who raised him, is also deceased. He and his elder brother had primarily supported one another, the China News Service reported.
The response to the October 25 invitation saw people travelling from across China to provide food, flowers, and gifts. Some visitors volunteered to help with decorations, while chefs offered to cook for the guests. One person reportedly provided a Maybach for the occasion, and others organised a fleet of wedding cars.
As the crowd grew, local officials moved the celebration to a larger venue because Xu's home could not hold everyone. The Global Times reported that hotels in Luowang township were fully booked and local restaurants experienced a surge in business.
During the ceremony, Xu married his bride, Chuichui, and the couple performed a bonfire dance in traditional Miao clothing. Xu requested that guests do not provide cash gifts, instead asking them to travel safely.
While many expressed solidarity, some people questioned if the event was a marketing exercise. Others raised concerns regarding traffic, accommodation, and the practicalities of managing such a large number of visitors, according to the Global Times.
