Lavender-scented group wedding in Gansu

Brides and grooms walk to the wedding site. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

There was a group wedding ceremony for 46 new couples and 6 golden and silver couples from across the country amidst a sea of lavender blossoms in the city of Jinchang, Gansu province, on Sept 2.

The wedding ceremony was a part of the city's themed tourism festival activities, which opened on Sept 1.

Song Ping, director of the city's civil affairs bureau, who was a "best man" for the weddings, explains, "There are more than 4,000 couples wanting to get married who registered for the group ceremony, but we could only take 52 couples in the end."

Couple shows off their vow at Jinchang's Zijin Huacheng scenic spot. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

There was also a "tasting Jinchang food" activity running simultaneously as part of the tourism festival, whose goal is to attract more tourists by offering panorama of Jinchang culture along with tourism routes, according to the city government.

But, the wedding ceremony is a highlight of the tourism festival, with help from the Gansu Radio and TV Network and the Jinchuang government. It comes with a wedding photograph show, romantic tour of flower city, and gourmet display at the city's Zijin Huacheng scenic spot.

Line-up of 52 couples at the group wedding in Jinchang, Gansu province. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Edited by Roger Bradshaw