"To see the stamp on the date, all the efforts to come out in this freezing weather were worthwhile!" Zhang said.

Hao Shide, a staff member with the Haidian District Marriage Registration Office in Beijing, made more than 200 stamps and said more than 200 "Congratulations to you two!" on Jan 4. He began his shift at 5 am with 14 colleagues, four hours before the usual office time, and skipped all breaks. On an average day, the whole office would manage 200 registrations.

Hao's hard work was rewarded by a crate of wedding candies by his desk, sweet gifts from the happy couples who just tied the knot.

Newlyweds pose for photos with their marriage certificates spelling out the date of Jan 4, 2013, in Zaozhuang city, East China's Shandong province. Chinese couples consider Jan 4, 2013, as the best day in 10,000 years to tie the knot, because the date sounds like "lifetime love" in Chinese. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

Pan Juanjuan, 28, and Chen Wei, 29, who have been together for five years, said they specially chose the date and waited months for it. "It's our solemn commitment. It's a matter of a lifetime."

In Shanghai, many young couples waited in front of the marriage registration offices from as early as 2 am on one of the coldest days in the city this winter. Some couples hugged to keep warm, and joked that "cold and slow" sounded the same as "romantic" in Shanghai dialect.

At the marriage registration office of Changning district, quite a few parents were found standing in line for their children who failed to make online reservations ahead of time, as the quota was quickly filled.

"I'm lining up for my daughter," an elderly man with a nose made red from the cold told Xinmin Evening News. "I rise early for exercise anyway. We are growing old, and ready to do whatever possible for the happiness of our children," he said.

Tian'ai Road in Hongkou district of Shanghai attracted many lovers on this special day too, as the street name literally means "sweet love". Many waited in front of the post office there for postcards marked with "20131400".

On such special days, roses are more expensive, lovebirds are photogenic, sugar is scattered everywhere.

But the first message between lovebirds after they officially tie the knots is the always romantic words "I love you".

Contact the writers at sunye@chinadaily.com.cn and zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn