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The move comes as marriages in China fell by one-fifth last year, with analysts attributing the decline to high childcare and education costs, Reuters reported.Ningbo’s civil affairs department announced on its official WeChat account that newlyweds will be eligible for eight vouchers worth a total of 1,000 yuan ($141/£107), redeemable for wedding photography, ceremonies, celebrations, hotel stays, retail, and other marriage-related services.“The vouchers are limited in quantity and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis,” the department said.According to Independent, other eastern cities, including Hangzhou and Pinghuimilar have also launched similar schemes offering cash vouchers until the end of the year.Last year, more than 6.1 million couples registered marriages in China, down from 7.68 million in 2023. For Chinese authorities, boosting marriage and childbirth rates is a priority amid a rapidly aging population.Beijing has previously also urged colleges and universities to provide “love education” promoting positive attitudes towards marriage, fertility, and family life, while also directing local governments to allocate resources to encourage couples to marry and have children “at the right age.”
