Several Chinese cities are distributing “marriage consumption vouchers” worth between 800 and 1,000 yuan ($110–$138) to newly registered couples in an effort to boost marriage rates. The initiative, however, has sparked widespread skepticism online.
According to Southern Metropolis Daily, cities including Ningbo, Hangzhou, and Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province are offering the vouchers to couples who register their marriages. In Ningbo, couples registering between late October and December receive eight vouchers worth 125 yuan each, totaling 1,000 yuan ($138). These can be used for wedding photography, ceremonies, counseling, travel, accommodation, and dining at participating merchants on the UnionPay platform within twenty days of issuance. Hangzhou offers ten vouchers worth 100 yuan each, redeemable for similar services with a minimum purchase of 2,000 yuan ($275).
Social media users have reacted with cynicism. Many on Weibo joked that the vouchers are too small to make a difference, quipping that elderly couples might register just for the benefits. Others argued that removing the mandatory divorce “cooling-off” period would be a more effective way to encourage marriage.
China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs reported 3.54 million marriage registrations in the first half of 2025—up 109,000 from a year earlier—alongside 1.33 million divorces. To promote marriage, the government has introduced simplified registration procedures, allowing couples to register nationwide without household registration documents, and has opened registration centers in parks, subways, and shopping malls.
Twenty-eight provinces have also extended marriage leave, and some localities provide cash incentives. In Lüliang, Shanxi Province, first-time married couples receive 1,500 yuan ($207) if the bride is 35 or younger. Experts see such measures as part of a broader effort to lower the financial and social costs of marriage and child-rearing.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 3, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202511030192.aspx