customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

summary

updatedDate

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

A couple in China were so determined their wedding would go ahead despite severe flooding, that they used a boat and a fire engine as transport.
They planned to hold their ceremony in their hometown of Guilin in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on the morning of June 19.
Then came the heaviest rainfall since 1998, and as the bride was on her way to the wedding, the area began to flood.
Video footage taken by locals show the bride’s father and the groom pushing a home-made boat as the bride sits inside holding an umbrella.

“It is the first time I saw a bride going to her wedding on a boat,” an observer told the mainland news outlet Jingshizhibo.
The bride, whose name was not revealed, said the water level reached people’s chests, but they had to carry on with the wedding because “everything had been planned”.
In China, especially rural areas where traditional values remain strong, people believe weddings must be held on auspicious dates. They believe changing those dates might bring bad luck.
Also, newlyweds do not like to inconvenience their guests, some of whom might have travelled a long distance to attend their wedding.
The bride had been to a nearby county for her makeup, and was on her way back home in a friend’s car, which got caught in the sudden flooding.
They met a group of firefighters and asked for their help to get back to their town. It took the fire engine 20 minutes to drive the 20-kilometre distance.
The groom then borrowed a home-made boat from his friend and used it to transport his new wife. His father-in-law helped him push the boat for two kilometres through the waterlogged roads.

The bride said it was an “unforgettable” experience.
“I am impressed by how strong their will is to get married,” an online observer wrote on Douyin.
“Her wedding vehicles look much cooler than luxury cars,” another said.
“They have literally ‘crossed the water in the same boat’,” a third said, referring to a Chinese idiom that means “pulling together in times of trouble”.


Who is Dao Lang? Comeback concert viewed by 53 million people online, moves many to tears

Mother in China claims son suffers skin pigmentation loss after being slapped by teacher

China ‘mistress counsellor’ restores broken marriages by persuading lovers to depart

2 strangers lock noisy China toddler in plane toilet to discipline her, igniting heated debate

Trending in China

Unstoppable: China couple forge ahead with wedding despite floods, use boat, fire engine

A determined couple in rural China did not let severe flooding rain on their wedding day parade. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The deluge began just as the wedding participants were about to get the celebrations started. Photo: Douyin

As her father and her groom push, the blushing bride sits in a boat protected by umbrellas. Photo: Douyin

Genius China engineer cements love with concrete engagement ring

An award-winning inventor in China has shocked social media by giving his wife-to-be an engagement ring made out of his signature product, waterproof concrete. Photo: SCMP composite/Jimu

Solid bond: Yao slips the concrete ring onto the finger of his now wife. Photo: Weibo

The famous engineer represents 15 companies and has around 60 patents to his name. Photo: Weibo

China tech firm enforces extreme overwork, exceeding contentious ‘996’ model

A technology firm in China has enforced a regime of very long hours for its staff, reigniting the debate about working conditions on the mainland. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock


Many workers in China say they do not mind hard work as long as they are properly compensated. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s labour laws state that the amount of overtime worked should not exceed 36 hours a month. Photo: Shutterstock

Outrage as China hospital slaps 70-US-cent fee on patient for use of chair during treatment

A hospital in China that charged a patient 70 US cents for sitting on a chair has sparked outrage. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin

The hospital has responded to the controversy by saying the fee is in line with official regulations. Photo: Shanghai Observer/video grab

Online observers have asked if patients will have to take their own chairs with them when they visit hospital. Photo: Shutterstock

China woman, 40, streaks through college campus in revenge against lover, 18, who ‘took her money’

A middle-aged woman in China has taken an extreme form of revenge against her teenage lover, by streaking through the college campus on which he studies. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo


The half-nude woman stormed onto the college campus in a bid to embarrass her ex-lover. Photo: X

An array of images of the couple appeared online prior to their split and the woman’s nude stunt. Photo: Weibo

‘Who is haute couture queen?’: China KOL Lulu with million fans slams French design house for loan of dress to actress

A KOL in China known as the “haute couture queen” has expressed anger after a French fashion house loaned a dress she had paid a deposit for to a British actress. Photo: SCMP composite/Instagram@iammadamlulu


Influencer Lulu, who moves in famous circles, is photographed with Victoria Beckham. Photo: ifeng.com

Lulu and British actress Anya Taylor-Joy wearing the same outfit. Photo: Instagram@iammadamlulu

News

People & Culture

Environment

Fire engine takes 20 minutes to drive 20km to get bride to her groom as boats deployed for ceremony


A couple in rural China who planned their big day for an auspicious date were not going to let a little thing like a flood stop their nuptials.


Extreme weather