In 2025, Qingdao recorded over 54,000 marriages, a nearly 40 percent year-on-year increase despite a national decline. More than 60 percent of these couples were from outside the area. In the first two months of this year, over 1,000 couples traveled from other places to Qingdao specifically to get married.

What makes the coastal city so appealing? As a leader in China's nationwide marriage registration reform, Qingdao has transformed the bureaucratic process into a romantic experience.

The city has opened 11 scenic registration outlets, including Anna Villa, Qingdao Cruise Homeport, and Shandong's first high-altitude romantic marriage registration spot at 369 meters high, where couples exchange vows with panoramic views of the mountains and sea. At the Qingdao Cruise Homeport, newlyweds can board a cruise immediately upon receiving their certificate to make their honeymoon voyage easier.

To maximize economic benefits, Qingdao has created a closed loop: romantic services attract visitors, immersive experiences engage them, and wedding tourism spending fuels local industries. The city hosts year-round events like spring dating festivals, Qixi wedding weeks, and love-themed light shows along Fushan Bay. It has also introduced "senior romance" packages, celebrating golden wedding anniversaries for elderly couples.

From historic lighthouses to ancient town wedding halls, Qingdao is incorporating its coastal charm into a thriving "happiness economy", aiming to become a global wedding destination and a World Capital of Romance.

With clear blue skies, green trees, a shimmering sea, and sandy beaches, the coastal city of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province has romantic appeal. [Photo/Guanhai News]