Children of Beijing cancer victim, 78, throw the wedding banquet she never had

The children of a 78-year-old woman battling cancer threw a special wedding banquet on Sunday in honour of their parents who tied the knot 56 years ago, The Beijing News reports.

Zhang Chunlan, who lives in Beijing with her husband of the same age, was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer in February. Her three children, who have been caring for her, decided to hold the banquet to cheer her up, the newspaper reported.

A smiling Zhang and her husband donned red Chinese wedding costumes and went through the formal ceremony on the stage, witnessed by more than 100 relatives and friends.

Zhang admitted during the ceremony that the couple did not have the money or resources for a proper ceremony when they married, but said she was grateful her children had put together the special event.

The couple have lived a frugal but busy life during the more than six decades they have lived in Beijing – Until a few years ago, they had never visited the famous Forbidden Palace or the Great Wall.

“I would like to travel to Taiwan and see what it’s like over there,” Zhang said.