As the much-anticipated "520 Day" (May 20) approaches, known for its homophonic resemblance to "I love you" in Mandarin, a surge in marriage registrations is expected.

With May 20 falling on a Saturday this year, couples will have the opportunity to solemnize their unions without the constraints of a weekday.

To meet the overwhelming demand this year, local authorities in many parts of China have announced extended services at marriage registration offices to ensure a smooth and efficient registration process for couples.

In response to the peak period of marriage registration, the Marriage Registration Office of the Guangming District Civil Affairs Bureau has launched an emergency plan, including increasing the number of marriage registration appointments, increasing staff and prolonging service hours on the special day to meet the rising demand.

Couples intending to register their marriages are encouraged to utilize various appointment methods to streamline the process. The bureau reminds citizens who have made an appointment to prepare their ID cards, household registration books, photos and other materials in advance. If the online reservation is full, citizens with permanent residence in Guangming can come to the registration office directly and make an on-site reservation.

The registration office will also organize an event for 50 newlywed couples who work at Guangming Science City, to obtain their marriage certificates at a ceremony to mark their contributions to the district. 

The "520 Day" has become young netizens' Valentine's Day in China. This is in addition to the other two lovers' days that people celebrate in China: traditional Chinese lovers' day or qixi, on the lunar July 7, and Western Valentine's Day on Feb. 14.