2-6-2023 (HANGZHOU) A man in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang has made headlines by paying an astonishing bride price of 9.98 million yuan (approximately S$1.9 million) in cash, along with gold bars and luxury watches. The groom-to-be arranged for an armoured truck to transport the dowry to the home of his prospective bride on Tuesday, as captured in a widely circulated video.
The dowry, consisting of stacks of cash, gold bars, and jewelry, was securely transferred in six safes adorned in auspicious red hues by professional escorts. The engagement ceremony took place at a designated venue, with the cash subsequently deposited into the bride-to-be’s bank account.
@webossx #新人 #訂婚 押鈔車運送998萬現金彩禮到場 ，準新郎：這在當地很常見 #浙江 ♬ 原声 – We
While the extravagant display drew mixed reactions of envy and criticism online, the groom, identified as Mr Yan, 30, defended the practice as a local custom prevalent in Taizhou, the city where he and his fiancée reside. He emphasized that they plan to hold their wedding ceremony at the end of 2023.
Despite recent efforts by the Chinese government to curb extravagant bride prices, the practice continues to persist. In January, the southeastern province of Jiangxi made headlines for recording the highest average bride prices in a Xinhua ranking, averaging an auspicious 380,000 yuan, excluding additional expenses such as cars and houses.
In February, a significant Chinese policy document for 2023 outlined the government’s intention to address exorbitant bride prices and lavish wedding ceremonies. The measures were proposed as China experienced its first population decline since 1961.
However, the lavish display of the armoured cash truck in Zhejiang by Mr Yan highlights the enduring nature of this age-old tradition, which traces its roots back to the Han Dynasty. Despite attempts at reform, the practice of extravagant bride prices in China seems unlikely to fade away overnight.
