Thousands of strangers attend wedding of Chinese man in Yunnan
Xu Chenghong invited people via social media after fearing his wedding would lack attendees due to having few relatives.
A 24-year-old man named Xu Chenghong married his bride, Chuichui, on October 31 in Yiliang county, Yunnan province, after more than 10,000 strangers attended his wedding. According to the Times of India, the large gathering occurred after Xu posted an open invitation on the Douyin social media platform 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 a small affair because he had few relatives. His father died when he was three, his mother remarried, and the grandmother who raised him has also passed away.
The response to his October 25 video invitation saw people travelling from various parts of 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.
As the crowd grew, local officials moved the celebration to a larger venue because Xu's home could not accommodate everyone. The Global Times reported that hotels in Luowang township were fully booked and local restaurants experienced a surge in business.
While many social media users praised the spirit of solidarity shown by the strangers, some 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.
