The "Qingdao, a city of romance" collective wedding ceremony took place at the peak of Laoshan Mountain's Jufeng scenic area in Qingdao on Aug 19, marking the Qixi Festival, China's equivalent of Valentine's Day. Twelve couples dressed in traditional Chinese-style wedding attire exchanged vows with the mountains and sea as their witnesses.

The ceremony site featured marriage registration services, a folk market, and interactive technology displays, blending tradition with modern convenience.

"We've been together for six years. Making our vows here at the mountain peak means more than any lavish ceremony," said Wang Guizhen, one of the grooms.

As part of its effort to build a "destination wedding city", Qingdao has refined its marriage registration services. According to official data, more than 2,600 couples registered their marriages in the city from January to July.

This year, the city has already hosted over 100 couples in collective wedding ceremonies. It has established 14 distinctive marriage registration venues to date, including the country's first lighthouse-themed and beer-themed registration points. Each venue offers unique settings, from mountain peaks and lighthouses to historic sites, making Qingdao an increasingly popular destination for couples nationwide to tie the knot.

Twelve couples dressed in traditional Chinese wedding attire exchange vows at the summit of Laoshan Mountain, with the sea and sky as their witnesses. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ceremony blends ancient wedding customs with modern elements, including a folk market and interactive tech displays. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao continues to build its reputation as a "destination wedding city", hosting over 100 couples in collective ceremonies this year. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]