In traditional Chinese culture, the number nine has long been regarded as being pure and represents longevity. With that in mind, Sep. 9, 2009, is an auspicious day that comes only once in a lifetime. The number nine has the same pronunciation as “forever” in “loving you forever” in Chinese, making 9/09/09, or “999,” the most desired day for couples in China to get married.

Ms. Zhao, 28, and her boyfriend have decided to get married on Sept. 9, 2009, because they want their wedding to be on an “unforgettable date” that has the connotation of a love that is “everlasting and unchanging,” she said.

She isn’t the only one who feels that way. Her colleague Shen Yan and her boyfriend are also planning to get married on that day: “It would be so romantic to get married on Sept. 9, 2009 at 9:09:09 o’clock.” Shen added. “It won’t be easy. I predict there will be many people trying to register to get married on that day, so I don’t know if we will be able to succeed.”

Currently, over 4,000 couples in China’s Northern city of Tianjin have set Sept. 9 as their wedding date, according to Pan Shuhui, the president of the Tianjin Wedding Association. Pan also mentioned that many wedding celebration companies and restaurants have already been sold out for that date.

As of August 29, over 2,500 couples in Shanghai set appointments with the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs to register to get married on Sept. 9, according to the Xinmin Evening News.

Many of Shanghai’s city web sites reached their registration quota the first day they opened on that date for marriage registrations.

Read original Chinese article.