A mass wedding registration event held at a tourist attraction in Kaifeng has sparked controversy after viral online claims alleged that the newlyweds were actually “paid actors” hired to boost publicity.
The event took place during China’s popular “520” celebrations at the Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City scenic area and was jointly organised with the local marriage registration authorities.
However, social media users later accused organisers of staging the ceremony using fake couples, claiming the participants looked “emotionless” and appeared unfamiliar with one another.
Some online posts even alleged that people had been recruited merely to “fill numbers” and create online buzz for the attraction.
The controversy quickly gained attention across Chinese social media platforms, prompting local authorities to step in and deny the allegations.
Officials from the Longting District Marriage Registration Office strongly rejected the claims, insisting all couples who joined the ceremony had legally registered for marriage through official appointment procedures.
Authorities stressed that every participant received legally recognised marriage certificates bearing official seals.
According to officials, demand for participation in the event was extremely high, with places reportedly fully booked in advance.
The marriage registration office accused online users of maliciously spreading false information and confirmed that efforts are underway to identify those responsible for the rumours.
Further investigations by Chinese media reportedly found that photos circulating online were not even taken at the Kaifeng event.
Officials from Zhengzhou confirmed that some of the images used in viral posts were actually stolen from a separate genuine group wedding event held in Jinshui District.
Authorities said the false claims had been created by piecing together unrelated information, locations and photos from different cities.
Officials urged the public not to believe or spread unverified online rumours, warning that legal action could follow against those found responsible for fabricating misinformation.
